National Occupational Standards

National Occupational Standards

The Supported Employment National Occupational Standards (NOS) describe the describe the skills and knowledge needed by the supported employment sector and are based on the internationally agreed 5-stage model of Supported Employment.

Individuals and organisations who enable people with disabilities and/or disadvantages to find, access and stay in employment through specialist employment support use a variety of job titles to describe these job support roles.

BASE uses the descriptor of job coach to describe this role but others may refer to this role as an employment support specialist, employability coach, inclusive employment support officer, employment adviser or employment consultant.

SKA SE01: Apply values and ethical practice as a practitioner within supported employment

This standard is about ensuring own practice adheres to the relevant ethical principles, values and codes of ethical practice that apply within supported employment.

View full standard

Welsh Language Version 

 

SKA SE02: Assist prospective job seekers who aspire to paid employment

This standard is about enabling those people who have disabilities and/or disadvantages to raise their aspirations and to make informed decisions about employment.

It also identifies how the supported employment practitioner works with families, communities and other partners to address their concerns and to enable prospective job seekers to raise their aspirations for work.

In the context of this standard the term "job seeker" applies to an individual seeking some form of supported employment.

View full standard

Welsh Language Version

 

SKA SE03: Identify the needs of job seekers to enable a good job match

This standard is about the supported employment practitioner identifying the needs of the individual in terms of their skills, abilities and experiences to enable a good job match.

It includes finding ways to address any difficulties in their personal circumstances that might create a barrier to paid employment.

View full standard

Welsh Language Version

 

SKA E04: Create and agree development plans for job seekers to gain and maintain employment

This standard is about working with job seekers to develop and agree development plans that meets their employment, personal and financial needs. 

View full standard

Welsh Language Version

 

SKA SE05: Advise employers about the benefits processes and practices to recruit and retain a diverse workforce

This standard is about engaging with employers to enable them to understand the benefits of developing processes and practices to recruit and retain a diverse workforce.

It includes providing support to the employer to review their employment practices, to facilitate workforce diversity, while at the same time meeting their business needs.

View full standard

Welsh Language Version

 

SKA SE06: Work with job seekers and employers to match individuals to jobs

This standard is about working with job seekers and employers to match individuals to jobs based on the job seeker's needs, skills and abilities, and available employment opportunities. It includes carrying out job analyses and assessments to ensure that employment opportunities are suitable and reflect the aspirations of the job seeker, their health, safety and wellbeing is addressed and that there are support structures in place. 

View full standard

Welsh Language Version

 

SKA SE07: Enable individuals in supported employment to be productive and integrated in their workplace

This standard is about enabling individuals in paid employment and their employers to have the support and resources they require to be productive in work and do a job which meets the employer’s requirements. It enables the practitioner to explore and use proven techniques to support task training, problem solving and coaching in the workplace. It includes working with the employer and employee to identify and obtain any special resources or assistive technologies to enable the individual to do their job and become as independent as possible in the workplace. This also includes identification of funding sources that may be available to enable the job seeker to enter and perform productively within the workplace. The standard also identifies help to those employed to play a full role in the social life of the workplace.

View the full standard 

Welsh Language Version 

 

SKA SE08: Develop yourself as a reflective supported employment practitioner

This standard is about the way in which the supported employment practitioner develops their own competence and practice through supervised guidance, communities of practice, review and reflection.

View full standard 

Welsh Language Version