Workforce Development Funding

Please watch the below video for a simple step by step guide:

Did you know that you can claim funding for some of your staff training?

WDF Funding supports the provision of high-quality care and the continuing professional development of staff across the adult social care sector by providing a contribution towards the costs of some health and social care training. The fund allows adult social care employers to claim back money towards the costs of paid staff completing a broad range of adult social care qualifications, learning programmes and digital learning modules. 

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.

Essex Care Association (ECA) were awarded a WDF Grant for 2023/24 and distributes funding across Essex, Southend and Thurrock up until 31st May 2024.

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO WDF POST 31/05/24

Skills for Care have announced important changes to WDF after May 2024.  A much reduced WDF fund will be made available direct by Skills for Care after May for one year. 
 
This means that WDF will no longer be available through Essex Care Association., once this funding year is completed.

A new learning and development fund its planned by the DoHSC from 2025 and it will be claimed through a digital service.  The fund will be administered by NHS Business Services.

WDF is still open until 31/05/24 and we advise all Partners who have pending claims to submit them as soon as possible as unlike previous years ECA will not be able to carry them over if you miss the deadline.

For those Partners who have learning in progress which will not be completed until after 31/05/24, a new direct claim procedure will be announced soon by Skills for Care who will handle it direct with providers.

NEW UPDATE MONDAY 15TH APRIL

The WDF will be scaled down in 2024-25. It will only be possible to claim WDF for learning which is already in progress. This means that qualifications and courses which start on or before 31 March 2024 will be eligible for the WDF as long as the learner completes and the certificate is issued by 31 March 2025. This is to ensure that employers who have already paid for learning and development are not left out of pocket. Courses and qualifications which start on or after 1 April 2024 will not be eligible for funding through the WDF.
 
Skills for Care have also updated their website to include this information:-
 
www.skillsforcare.org.uk/fundingupdate
 
This update includes information on the new Adult Social Care Training and Development Fund including eligibility criteria

Comments from our Partners who have successfully claimed WDF funding:

"Training funded by WDF has helped our staff to identify a clear progression for them"
LS Thurrock

"All of the courses that have been funded by WDF has helped to retain staff by ensuring they have a qualification"
K C Colchester

"Staff feel valued and understand that we are helping them to develop within adult social care"
K C Colchester

"Since completing their qualification, the staff member has shown interest in developing their career with us"
OS Southend