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Update February 2024: The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is planning a new learning and development fund for adult social care which will be claimed through a new digital service. The introduction of the new fund will have implications for the WDF which will be scaled down in 2024-25.

In 2024-25, it will only be possible to claim WDF for learning which is already in progress. This is to ensure that employers who have already paid for learning and development are not left out of pocket. New learning and development will be claimed through the new fund.

The Workforce Development Fund (WDF) 2023/24

What is the Workforce Development Fund?

The Workforce Development Fund (WDF) comes from the Department of Health and Social Care and is disseminated by Skills for Care.  It supports adult social care providers to claim back money towards the costs of staff completing a range of adult social care qualifications and learning programmes.  ECA has been awarded a WDF Grant for 2023/24 and distributes funding across Essex, Southend and Thurrock on behalf of Skills for Care.

What can I Claim?

Priorities for the 2023-24 WDF

Each qualification certificate must be dated between 1st January 2023 and 31st March 2024.  The fund can be claimed for money towards the costs of course fees and associated costs such as staff salaries whilst undertaking training and/or wage replacement costs.  Coaching and mentoring costs and/or venue costs for training.

Funding to support new managers, existing managers, deputies and aspiring managers 

Claim enhanced funding for aspiring, deputy and new managers completing: 

  • Level 4 Certificate in Principles of Leadership and Management for Adult Care: claim up to £600 per learner 
  • Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care: claim up to £1,500 per learner. 

Claim money towards learning programmes and continuing professional development modules for registered managers and other managers: 

  • Lead to succeed: claim up to £500 per learner. 
  • Well-led, Leading Change Improving Care and 
  • Moving Up: claim up to £500 per learner. 
  • Understanding workplace culture, understanding performance management and understanding self- management skills: claim up to £125 per learner per programme. 
  • Skills for Care Introductory modules for managers: claim up to £50 per learner per module. 
  • Skills for Care 'Learning from Events': claim up to £50 per learner. 
  • Costs of the 20% “off the job” learning for apprenticeships - this includes those providers who are Levy payers.
  • Smaller awards and certificates within the RQF framework for Dementia, Autism, End of Life, Learning Disabilities, etc.
  • Digital Learning for Managers including Preparing for CQC Inspection.

All costs must be incurred before WDF is claimed and employers must ensure they have records in place to evidence the costs of any funding claim they make. Please see list of funded qualifications below:-

WDF funded quals 2023-24 (skillsforcare.org.uk)

How do I claim?

  1. Complete your ASC – Workforce Data Set (formerly NMDS.SC). For more information please click here 
  2. Email your completed Members Declaration Form and Letter of Agreement to ectp@essexcare.org.uk
  3. Email your completed Employers Claim Submission Form and Claim information sheet and a photocopy of your employee’s qualification certificate to ectp@essexcare.org.uk
  4. ECTP will review your application and submit all accurate claims to Skills for Care on your behalf.  You should be notified within 6 to 8 weeks if your claim has been successful.
  1. Complete or update your ASC – Workforce Data Set (formerly NMDS.SC). For more information please click here 
  2. Email your completed Employers Claim Submission Form, Claim information sheet and a photocopy of your employee’s qualification certificate to ectp@essexcare.org.uk
  3. ECTP will review your application and submit all accurate claims to Skills for Care on your behalf.  You should be notified within 6 to 8 weeks if your claim has been successful

IMPORTANT: All certificates must include the Skills for Care required information about the learner

For more information contact ectp@essexcare.org.uk 

Last updated: 17/08/2023