WDF - Workforce Development Fund
The Workforce Development Fund (WDF) is coming to an end. For 2024-25. It will only be possible to claim WDF for learning which is already in progress. This means that qualifications and apprenticeships 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.
Any claims must be done directly with Skills for Care and not through WMCA
Courses and qualifications which start on or after 1 April 2024 will not be eligible for funding through the WDF, you may be able to claim through the new Learning Development Support Scheme (LDSS) see below
How to claim funding for the 2024/25 funding year
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 be administered by NHS Business Services. Details of the new fund are further down on this page
All employers will claim WDF directly from Skills for Care (not through the Care Association as previously). Find out how to claim.
To benefit from the 2024-25 WDF you must:
- complete/submit a declaration form before 28 February 2025
- 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.
Learning Development Support Scheme (LDSS)
The Government has announced a new fund which has replaced the Workforce Development Fund.
This fund is centrally administered by NHS Business Services and is not connected to Skills for Care or WMCA
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. Staff taking the training must be in qualifying roles. You must show evidence of the spend on training.
There is guidance available on the Governemnet website
This guidance covers:
- the eligibility criteria for being able to make claims through the scheme
- how the funding can be used, including the training courses and qualifications within scope of the scheme
- when the funding will be available
- the reimbursement rates
- the transition arrangements from the Workforce Development Fund
- details on how adult social care employers can access the online claims service and make a claim
For full details please click here
