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Democratic Services Qualifications and National Occupational Standards

Democratic Services is a rapidly developing profession at the forefront of modernising local government. Those involved professionally in the Democratic Services function are at the heart of local governance. The role includes managing core local government functions and supporting elected members in both their traditional and emerging needs in order to meet community priorities.

Following consultation with the sector, a steering group of representatives from across the country has been working together to establish the Association of Democratic Services Officers (ADSO) - www.asdso.co.uk

The Association was formally launched on 14th October at its inaugural conference. 

It has become the professional body for staff working within all areas of the profession –

• meetings support
• overview and scrutiny
• member support
• civic support
• community governance.

The Association is the missing piece of the jigsaw for staff across all levels working within the Democratic Services Profession and aims to become an established, well respected organisation, acting as a key consultative body for practitioner input into policy formulation and development.

Staff working within all areas of the Democratic Services Profession have access to National Occupational Standards (NOS) and newly developed qualifications.

Click here to access the National Occupational Standards

The NOS describe the benchmarks of best practice in Democratic Services. Local authorities can use the NOS for a number of purposes apart from qualifications, for example, for practice reviews, for job descriptions, recruitment, performance appraisal or on-the-job mentoring.

Following consultation with the sector, the new qualifications will replace the current NVQs and will be robust, professionally recognised qualifications, at Level 3 and 4. The Open University will be the awarding body and both qualifications will be recognised within the Qualifications and Credit Framework. Existing NVQs will continue to be recognised. The Knowledge Award and Democratic Services Certificate at level 3 were launched in conjunction with ADSO on 14th October 2009.

The accredited qualifications are:

• 500/7688/7   OU Level 3 Award in Understanding Democratic Services (QCF)
• 500/7687/5   OU Level 3 Certificate in Democratic Services Practice (QCF)

Knowledge Award – comprises 7 knowledge and understanding units assessed via a marked assignment and professional discussion

Democratic Services Certificate – comprises the 7 knowledge and understanding units which make up the award plus 3 mandatory practice units and a range of optional practice units

Democratic Services Professional Diploma (to be launched April 2010) – comprises an in depth research project within a specialist area for experienced democratic services professionals.

Further information regarding the qualifications can be accessed via the ADSO website www.asdso.co.uk

Latest news from SkillsPlus UK – Democratic Services and Sector Skills Councils (SSC) - September 2009 to March 2010

In line with government policy to transfer sectors currently outside the Sector Skills Council network into a relevant SSC, SkillsPlus UK is working hard to facilitate such a transfer for Democratic Services, in order to ensure it is supported in future developments in relation to standards and qualifications.  Facilitating this transfer is important for the sector as such support will only be available in future through a Sector Skills Council.

However, this means that SkillsPlus UK is no longer recognised as the Standards Setting Body, (SSB) for Democratic Services, and ceases to be eligible to hold review, implementation support or development contracts for the sector.

Therefore the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) has recently commissioned a consultancy called Learning Etc to undertake a short scoping exercise in relation to the NOS, working directly with the Standards and Qualifications Group, and consulting with the wider Democratic Services community. This is to clarify whether the 2007 NOS suite remains ‘fit for purpose’ or whether any aspects of the NOS suite will need updating in the near future.

For further information please contact Sue Parker at Learning Etc, on sue@learning-etc.co.uk or Mark Towers, Chair, Democratic Services Standards and Qualifications Group on mark.towers@blackpool.gov.uk

Current versions of the Standards can also be viewed at the UK Commission’s NOS Directory at www.ukces.org.uk