Developing occupational standards for the advice, guidance, counselling and psychotherapy sector

The context to the development of national standards in advice, guidance and counselling is outlined. The definitions of national occupational standards are reviewed and issues arising front the model explored The approach to writing generic standards across the advice, guidance and counselling fields is explained, together with the role of specialist function units. The treatmeni of ethics and equality is examined in detail, as is the role of generic standards imported from elsewhere. The role of evidence routes linked to the standards is discussed. The article concludes ztrith a review of the standards development process and the tensions inherent in it, and with a brief outline of the process by which qualifications will emerge.