Workforce Development Fund
WDF 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.
What can be funded:
You can claim up to £2,035 per learner per funding year through the Workforce Development Fund. You can claim funding for the same learner in multiple funding years, to support their personal development and career progression.
Claim funding towards the cost of listed qualifications and apprenticeships. This includes money towards the cost of course fees (or employer contributions) and associated costs such as employees’ salaries whilst they are undertaking training, coaching and mentoring costs, venue costs for the training or wage replacement costs.
To access the funded qualification and apprenticeships list, please click here:
To be funded qualifications and apprenticeships must have started on or before 31 March 2024 and must complete by 31 March 2025.
In 2024-25 the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is planning to launch a new learning and development fund: the Adult Social Care Training and Development Fund. The new fund will not be administered by Skills for Care.
How to apply:
To benefit from the 2024-25 WDF you must:
- complete/submit a declaration form before 28 February 2025 directly to Skills for Care
- ensure your Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) account meets WDF requirements by 31 March 2025
- claims must be submitted to Skills for Care by 31 March 2025.
Funding scheme for adult social care learning and development launched
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched the learning and development support programme for the financial year 2024 to 2025.
Eligible adult social care employers in England can claim staff training costs from the Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS). The LDSS is available for non-regulated care staff, including deputy and Care Quality Commission-registered managers and agency staff, within the adult social care workforce.
Information on the scheme which includes guidance on eligibility, the course list and the process can be found on the DHSC website.