SCQF

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) aims to enable people to access appropriate education and training over their lifetime by bringing the range of Scottish qualifications together into a single unified framework.  It provides a common ‘language’ for describing learning opportunities at different levels.  The Continuous Learning Framework builds upon the SCQF in seeking to support the social services workforce to gain qualifications and facilitate their continuous learning and development.  In particular, the Continuous Learning Framework will support people and their employers to recognise the learning they bring to your workplace, whether this has been gained through formal or informal prior learning through experience at work or in life more generally.

www.scqf.org.uk

National Occupational Standards (NOS)

National Occupational Standards describe the skills, knowledge and understanding needed to undertake a particular task or job to a nationally recognised level of competence.   They provide benchmarks of good practice across the UK.  

So if you are working in social services the NOS already describe what you need to do your job well in relation to the knowledge, skills, values and understanding section of the CLF.  They also link to the qualifications and training section of the CLF as NOS form the basis of the qualifications required to work in social services in Scotland and to register with the SSSC, eg Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs).    

Click here for access to the SSSC’s NOS Navigator which is a simple, easy to use tool to help you find your way around the NOS which are relevant for social services workers.

Post Registration Training and Learning (PRTL)

The CLF sets out what social services workers need to be able to do their jobs well.  Section two of the framework is about the qualifications and training they require.  The qualifications required by social services workers are largely set out at a national level by the SSSC as part of the process of registration of the social services workforce.  Once they are registered with the SSSC, social service workers must undertake a minimum amount of Post Registration Training and Learning (PRTL).  The CLF supports social services workers to make informed decisions about their PRTL.  It also helps them to provide evidence of this and in particular to reflect on and then demonstrate the impact the learning has had on their practice.  This is what is required when completing the PRTL Record of Achievement.  For more information on the qualifications required for registration and the PRTL requirements for your part of the register please click here.