Office of Social Services - Standards

Safety and Quality is at the heart of the work of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and is central to all areas of health and social care. The standards documents below have been produced under the auspices of the Office of Social Services to further promote safety and quality in the arena of professional practice, interagency working, where appropriate, and in the safe and effective delivery of children's and community care services.

The child protection standards are applicable to all public bodies, organisations, professionals and persons who provide statutory services to children. They also establish a framework of best practice in child protection for voluntary, community and independent sector organisations and practitioners (including counsellors and therapists working in a private capacity) who work with or have significant contact with children and young people. They should also help families and members of the public understand how services work to protect children and the important contribution they themselves can make to the safeguarding of children and young people.

Support for carers is a central policy objective for the Department. These standards will complement other published standards with regard to practice and social care service provision. They will be of use to Commissioners and Providers of social care support services for carers; social care workers; regulatory and training providers and most importantly to carers and their representative groups to inform them of what they can and should reasonably expect from social care support services and from the organisations and practitioners commissioning and providing them.

Further information can be accessed at Safety, Quality and Standards.