The provision of high-quality care is dependent on your workforce being equipped with the right skills, knowledge and confidence to deliver. In an ever-changing landscape it can be a tricky task to ensure your workforce is provided with the opportunities needed to continually develop due to time and budget restraints.
The Workforce Development Fund (WDF) supports the provision of high-quality care and the continuing professional development (CPD) of staff across the sector. Skills for Care disseminate the fund on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care. As an adult social care employer in England, you can claim money from the fund, towards the costs of your employees completing adult social care qualifications and learning programmes, helping your training budget go further.
The WDF covers a wide range of awards, certificates and diplomas covering different topic areas from level 2 to level 5, including the Adult Care Worker (level 2) apprenticeship and the Lead Adult Care Worker (level 3) apprenticeship. In 2019-20, you can benefit from enhanced funding for the two apprenticeships standards, claiming in two stages – when the learner has successfully completed the diploma and again when the apprenticeship is achieved, following the successful completion of the end-point assessment.
This year there is also £3 million of targeted funding to support new managers, existing managers, deputies and aspiring managers. Investing in managers represents an investment in their services, their staff and the quality of the care they provide. Evidence shows that the presence of an effective, well supported manager has the biggest impact on the overall quality of care provided.
Providing access to accredited learning and robust continuing professional development (CPD) for new and existing registered managers is essential in supporting these key professionals, in what is an important and fast changing role.
You can find the full list of funded qualifications and learning programmes at www.skillsforcare.org.uk/wdfquals
Find out more
To find out more about the Workforce Development Fund and how you can apply for funding click here.
