As our 20th birthday celebrations continue, this week we're highlighting The Workforce Development Fund (WDF).
This is funding from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) disseminated by Skills for Care. It supports the provision of high quality care and the continuing professional development (CPD) of staff across the adult social care sector by providing a contribution towards the costs of vocational learning.
The fund allows you to claim back money towards the costs of workers completing a broad range of adult social care qualifications and learning programmes.
Read some testimonials below from WMCA members who have successfully applied for funding through the WDF.
Roger Garland, Chief Executive at Crossroads Caring for Carers
Crossroads Caring for Carers is a domiciliary care agency (DCA) based in Worcestershire. Unusually for a DCA we have a CQC rating of OUTSTANDING.
That rating is based upon a whole range of factors, but one of the considerations is staff training. As an organisation we invest heavily in developing our staff with a focus on training, from initial induction through a range of courses and then to the Diploma in Care.
We do this in conjunction with the Government Apprenticeship Scheme as this helps fund the training costs for the external provider we engage to deliver Diploma training.
By linking to West Midlands Care Association we are also able to claim Workforce Development Fund (WDF) funding of £600 for a level 2 Diploma in Care and £800 for level 3. This is in addition to the WDF funding related to each Apprenticeship (£400/£500).
The WDF application process via West Midlands Care is really straightforward, they process them quickly, send them to Skills for Care and within a couple of weeks the funds are credited to our bank account. Access to WDF funding through West Midlands Care has enabled Crossroads to encourage many of our staff to obtain externally recognised qualifications that demonstrate their levels of skills and competencies. We really could not do this without the service and support provided by West Midlands Care.
Saggar Malde, Operations Director at SCL Care
I'm pleased to share my positive experience with the Workforce Development Fund (WDF) and West Midlands Care Association (WMCA). The decision to utilise the WDF was driven by its significant impact on the professional growth of our workforce. The financial support received played a crucial role in facilitating training programs and skill development initiatives, ultimately contributing to the overall improvement of our services. I’m therefore grateful that the WMCA’s application process for the WDF made accessing the fund a seamless experience. I was impressed by the efficiency of the entire process, from submission to approval. The speed at which I received funds was equally commendable. I appreciate WMCA's invaluable support throughout, making the entire experience positive and impactful. Thank you.
Find out more information on important dates, how to claim and check eligibility by clicking on the link below.
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