NICE has launched a consultation on two social care quality standards for dementia support and children's wellbeing.
The two-part consultation forms part of a pilot programme which is testing draft methods and processes of social care quality standards.
The draft quality standard on dementia consists of 13 statements outlining the care and support of people dementia.
Dr Gillian Leng, deputy chief executive and director of health and social care at NICE, said: "We are very pleased to be able to issue these two draft quality standards for consultation; they provide an early version of what high quality care should look like in dementia, and for looked after children and young people.
"Although NICE has been producing quality standards for health care since 2010, these will be the first standards for social care."
NICE is working with the social care sector to develop the pilot quality standards; each of the drafts is based on existing NICE guidance and has been developed by an independent Topic Expert Group made up of 19 members including social care expert, professional groups and lay members.
Stakeholders, including health and social care professionals and members of the public now have the opportunity to comment on the draft quality standards, which are available on the NICE website."
Care services minister Paul Burstow said: "The Care and Support White Paper sets out our plans to drive up the quality of care.
"NICE's new quality standards on social care will be a key driver of this. By helping to define exactly what good care and support looks like, commissioners and care providers know what they should be delivering and people using services know what to expect from a high quality service."
The Health and Social Care Act (2012) set out a new responsibility for NICE to develop quality standards and other guidance for social care in England.
