Registered nurses, nursing associates and midwives working in adult social care are regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). The standards below set expectations for safe, effective and professional practice, and support both individual registrants and employers to maintain high-quality, person-centred care. [nmc.org.uk], [rcn.org.uk]
Key standards and guidance
- NMC Code (The Code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour)
The core professional standards that all NMC registrants must uphold to remain on the register. The Code is structured around four themes: prioritise people, practise effectively, preserve safety, and promote professionalism and trust.
Link: NMC Code of Practice [nmc.org.uk] - NMC Standards of Competence (Pre‑2018 standards for competence for registered nurses)
Published as a reference for nurses throughout their careers, these standards describe the requirements nurses must meet on qualification and the standards they are expected to maintain throughout their career to stay on the register. The page also notes these pre‑2018 standards are still used by some programmes across the UK.
Link: NMC Standards of Competence [nmc.org.uk] - RCN Nursing Workforce Standards
A UK-wide set of workforce standards that “set the benchmark for safe and effective nursing care”. They outline what is needed to secure a nursing workforce able to deliver safe, compassionate, person-centred care. The RCN groups the 14 standards into three themes: responsibility and accountability; clinical leadership and safety; and health, safety and wellbeing.
Link: RCN Workforce Standards [rcn.org.uk] - RCN Foundation – Social Care Nurses’ Guide to Revalidation
A practical, social-care-focused resource designed to help nurses prepare for NMC revalidation. It includes a step-by-step animation, hints and tips, and guidance on reflective discussions, examples of evidence (including feedback), required documentation, and information for confirmers.
Link: RCN Revalidation Guide [rcnfoundat…rcn.org.uk] - Skills for Care – Nursing careers in social care (resources and pathways)
A hub introducing nursing careers in adult social care, showcasing the range of roles and pathways (including nursing associates, registered nurses and specialist fields), with personal stories and information to support people at different career stages.
Link: Skills for Care resources [skillsforcare.org.uk]
Clinical Supervision
Clinical supervision is a structured, supportive process that enables staff to reflect on their practice, maintain professional standards and deliver safe, high‑quality care. It provides protected time to discuss complex cases, ethical decision‑making, wellbeing and professional development within a confidential and supportive environment.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) describes clinical supervision as an essential component of safe and effective practice, supporting reflective learning, professional accountability and continuous improvement in care delivery. Effective supervision benefits both staff and organisations by strengthening confidence, reducing professional isolation and supporting workforce wellbeing.
While national guidance and examples of funded clinical supervision are often aligned to NHS settings, this funding is not available to private, voluntary and independent (PVI) providers. Social care providers will therefore need to fund clinical supervision arrangements directly to ensure appropriate support is in place for registered nurses and other clinically accountable roles.
Providers are encouraged to view clinical supervision as an investment in quality, safety and staff retention, particularly where roles involve complex clinical decision‑making or working across health and social care boundaries.
Guidance: