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Support individuals to develop and maintain relationships

URN: HSCCLD221
Business Sectors (Suites): Health and Social Care & Childcare Learning and Development
Developed by: Skills for Care & Development
Approved: 2026

Overview

This standard identifies the requirements when supporting individuals to develop and maintain relationships. This includes supporting individuals to identify relationships that are important to them and supporting them to develop and maintain their relationships.

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

  1. establish consent and access information on the preferences and needs of individuals on relationship with others  
  2. contribute to identify relationships that are important to individuals, and their current and future relationship needs  
  3. work in partnership with individuals and others to contribute to planning how individuals can develop and maintain relationships
  4. support individuals and others to access information or resources they need to develop or maintain relationships  
  5. contribute to supporting individuals to participate in relationships with others  
  6. contribute to observing interactions between individuals and others and balance privacy, safety and intervention   
  7. support individuals and others to reflect on interactions and identify benefits and challenges  
  8. contribute to supporting individuals if relationships are maintained or end  
  9. contribute to records and reports required to work with individuals to develop or maintain relationships  
  10. reflect on how you carried out your roles and responsibilities when working with individuals to develop and maintain relationships, with feedback from others

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. the role of relationships on the wellbeing of individuals 
  2. how to support individuals to communicate their current and future relationship needs  
  3. how to contribute to the development of positive relationships  
  4. types of digital tools and devices that can support individuals to develop and maintain relationships  
  5. the importance of dignity, kindness and compassion in supporting individuals to develop and maintain relationships  
  6. factors that may affect relationships  
  7. the influence of neurodivergence and additional needs on how relationships are developed and maintained
  8. the influence of culture, background and spirituality on how relationships are developed and maintained  
  9. the impact relationships with individuals can have on others   
  10. how to support emotional regulation when developing and maintaining relationships 
  11. how to apply trauma informed principles to support individuals to develop and maintain relationships 
  12. how to access information on individuals and their relationships with others 
  13. how to contribute to observing interactions between individuals and others and how to balance privacy, safety and intervention   
  14. how power can be used and misused in relationships  
  15. how loss and change in relationships can impact individuals  
  16. how to respond to issues and concerns that may occur when supporting individuals to maintain relationships  
  17. the records and reports required for supporting individuals to develop and maintain relationships
  18. the relevant legal requirements, standards of practice, frameworks and guidance for supporting individuals to develop and maintain relationships  
  19. the workplace requirements on equality, diversity, inclusion, and rights when supporting individuals to develop and maintain relationships  
  20. how to work in partnership with others to support individuals to develop and maintain relationships  
  21. how your personal experiences and unconscious bias may impact when supporting individuals to develop and maintain relationships, and how to address this  
  22. the role of supervision, reflective practice and learning and development in supporting individuals to develop and maintain relationships

Scope/range

Scope Performance

Scope Knowledge

Values

Behaviours

Skills

Glossary

The glossary for this National Occupational Standard is available on the Skills for Care and Development website.

Links To Other NOS

External Links

Version Number

1

Indicative Review Date

2031

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

Skills for Care & Development

Original URN

HSCCLD221

Relevant Occupations

Social Care and Childrens Care

SOC Code

Keywords

Relationships, Health and Social Care & Children’s Care Learning and Development