Learning and Development Support Scheme
Eligible Adult Social Care employers can claim funding for certain training courses and qualifications on behalf of eligible care staff. The Learning and Development Support Scheme provides funding for eligible courses and qualifications that have been both paid for and started between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 (inclusive).
Workforce Development Funding
The Workforce Development Fund is a funding stream from the Department of Health and Social Care which is claimed from Skills for Care by the adult social care sector in England.
It funds qualifications and apprenticeships which started on or before 31 March 2024 and which will complete by 31 March 2025.
To claim funding, an organisation must provide an adult social care service and directly employ paid care staff within England.
The Workforce Development Fund (WDF) can be used to support the development of individuals who have been recruited from abroad and those who are working on a Health and Social Care Visa.
Apprenticeships
Funding is available to contribute towards the cost of apprenticeships.
Non-levy payer
As an employer, if you are not required to pay the apprenticeship levy or if you are a levy-paying employer with insufficient funds, you are only responsible for contributing 5% towards the training and assessment costs of your apprentice. The government will cover the remaining costs, up to the maximum amount specified by the funding band.
Levy payer
As an employer with a pay bill of more than £3 million, you’re required to pay the apprenticeship levy. You can manage funds using the apprenticeship service and spend it on training and assessing your apprentices.
The government will apply a 10% top up to the funds you have in your account.
If you don’t have enough funds, you just pay 5% of the outstanding balance and the government will pay the rest. This is up to the funding band maximum allocated to each specific apprenticeship.
Advanced Learner Loan
You can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to help with the costs of a course at a college or training provider in England.
Loan eligibility does not depend on your income and there are no credit checks.
Check if you’re eligible before you apply for an Advanced Learner Loan.
Individual Employer Funding
As an individual employer you can apply for individual employer funding to train yourself and your personal assistants (PAs).
This funding is now open for 2024/25 applications and it can be used to cover:
You can apply for up to five training courses per person and once completed you can apply for more.
Visit the Skills for Care website to find out more.
User Led Organisation Funding
Each year, Skills for Care provide funding to disabled people’s/user led organisations which have direct contact with individual employers and Personal Assistants. These are organisations who are run for, and by, people with a disability or long-term health condition.
Visit the Skills for Care website to find out more.