NOS in Social Work

The revised National Occupational Standards for newly qualified social workers spell out in full the following summary of social work roles:

• assessment of service users' needs and circumstances (service users may be individuals, families, carers, groups or communities) 
• planning, carrying out, reviewing and evaluating social work practice, including work with other professions 
• supporting individuals to represent their needs and views 
• managing risk to service users, and to oneself and colleagues 
• managing and accounting for one's social work practice 
• demonstrating professional competence in social work.

All of the functions described in the standards are set in the context of social work values as stated by service users. There is an expectation that social workers should value, recognise and respect service users' diversity, expertise and experience. The standards have also been written to complement the new codes of practice for social care workers and employers being set by the UK regulatory councils.

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