The Workforce Development Fund (WDF), which has been instrumental in supporting the training and development of adult social care workers, is undergoing significant changes. For the 2024-2025 period, the WDF will be scaled down and will only fund qualifications and apprenticeships that commenced on or before 31 March 2024 and are completed by 31 March 2025.
DHSC is providing funding under the LDSS to support learning and development for ‘non-regulated care staff’ please view the ‘Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme grant determination: 2024 to 2025’
Claims for reimbursement under the new fund will be processed through a digital online claims service. ASC employers can express their interest in being invited to use the service by completing this form.
This scheme is for eligible courses and qualifications that have been both paid for and started between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 (inclusive). A list of ‘Eligible training courses and qualifications’
Care Skills Funding
This funding provides reimbursement for a large range of training and development that have met government quality assurance standards, which includes the newly developed Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate.
Employer can receive £1500 to cover the cost of the Adult Care Level 2 Certificate The modules of the Level 2 Certificate include:
- The Principles of Understanding Own Role
- Personal Development in Adult Social Care Settings
- The Principles of Duty of Care in Adult Social Care Settings
- Promoting Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Human Rights in Adult Social Care Settings
- Promoting Person-Centred Practice in Adult Social Care Settings
- Promoting Effective Communication in Adult Social Care Settings
- The Principles of Privacy and Dignity in Adult Social Care Settings
- Promoting Nutrition and Hydration in Adult Social Care Settings
- Awareness of Mental Health and Dementia
- The Principles of Adult Safeguarding
- Understand the Principles of Safeguarding Children
- Promoting Health, Safety and Principles of Basic Life Support
- Effective Handling of Information in Adult Social Care Settings
- The Principles of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC)
- Understand Learning Disability and Autism
Elibility
To qualify for the LDSS, individuals must be employed by an employer (including local authorities) that meets all of the following criteria. The employer must:
- provide an ASC service
- directly employ care staff in England (see ‘Glossary of terms’ below and the accompanying ‘Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme grant determination: 2024 to 2025’)
- complete, or have already completed, the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS)
This funding is for eligible courses and qualifications that have been both paid for and started between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 (inclusive).
Note that the overall funding pot is limited. Once this has been exhausted, claims submitted will not receive reimbursement.
A deadline of 21 March 2025 (inclusive) applies for claims submitted this financial year. Late claims submitted between 22 March 2025 and 31 March 2025 (inclusive) may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Accessing the fund
This scheme is administered by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) on behalf of DHSC.
NHSBSA operates a new digital online claims service, which employers of eligible care staff can use to submit claims for the LDSS. This claims service is now live. ASC employers can express their interest in being invited to use the service by completing this form.
Onboarding process for the online claims service
After expressing interest in using the online claims service through the form, ASC employers will be contacted by NHSBSA to start the onboarding process in due course. This is a phased onboarding process, guided by NHSBSA. For the first few months, access to the online claims service is only possible through an invitation from NHSBSA.
Note that only the employers of eligible care staff will be able to access the online claims service – claims cannot be submitted directly by care staff or training providers
For more detailed information and updates, please refer to the official communications from the Department of Health and Social Care and the NHS Business Services Authority.
Queries about using the new digital online claims service should be emailed to asclearninganddevelopmentsupport@nhsbsa.nhs.uk. A contact centre line is also available for queries about the new digital online claims service by phoning 0300 330 0522.
Any other queries about the Learning and Development Support Scheme for 2024 to 2025 should be sent to ascreimbursement@dhsc.gov.uk.
