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Work with individuals to develop and maintain relationships

URN: HSCCLD327
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 working with individuals to identify relationships that are important to them, supporting them to develop and maintain their relationship and address any relationship concerns.

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

  1. establish consent and access information on the preferences and needs of individuals and their relationship with others 
  2. work in partnership with individuals and others to identify relationships that are important to them, and their current and future relationship needs 
  3. work in partnership with individuals and others to discuss the positive aspects of relationships and identify risks, challenges, or restrictions
  4. work in partnership with individuals and others to plan how individuals can develop and maintain relationships as preferences, needs and circumstances change 
  5. encourage individuals and others to identify and access information, resources, or support they need to develop or maintain relationships 
  6. support individuals to participate in relationships with others 
  7. observe interactions between individuals and others and balance privacy, safety and intervention  
  8. empower and encourage individuals and others to reflect on interactions and identify benefits and challenges of relationships
  9. support individuals and others if relationships are maintained or end 
  10. complete records and reports required to work with individuals to develop or maintain relationships 
  11. reflect on how you carried out your roles and responsibilities when working with individuals to develop and maintain relationships

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. the role of relationships on the health and wellbeing of individuals
  2. how to support individuals to communicate their current and future relationship needs 
  3. how to support individuals and others to develop positive relationships 
  4. how digital tools and devices can be used to develop and maintain relationships 
  5. the importance of dignity, kindness and compassion in working with individuals to develop and maintain relationships 
  6. factors that may affect relationships and how to address these
  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 in relationships
  11. how to apply trauma informed principles to work with individuals to develop and maintain relationships
  12. how to access and review information on individuals and their relationships with others
  13. how to manage risks and safeguarding restrictions on relationships
  14. the importance of observing interactions between individuals and others and how to balance privacy, safety and intervention  
  15. how power can be used and misused in relationships 
  16. how loss and change in relationships can impact individuals and others
  17. how to respond to issues and concerns that may occur when supporting individuals to maintain relationships 
  18. the records and reports required for working with individuals to develop and maintain relationships
  19. theories relevant to working with individuals to develop and maintain relationships 
  20. the relevant legal requirements, standards of practice, frameworks and guidance for working with individuals to develop and maintain relationships 
  21. the workplace requirements on equality, diversity, inclusion, and rights when working with individuals to develop and maintain relationships 
  22. how to work in partnership with others to support individuals to develop and maintain relationships 
  23. how your personal experiences and unconscious bias may impact when working with individuals to develop and maintain relationships, and how to address this 
  24. the role of supervision, reflective practice and learning and development in working with 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

HSCCLD327

Relevant Occupations

Social Care and Childrens Care

SOC Code

Keywords

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