Workforce development Fund
Care & Support West WDF Partnership - January 2024
Many will be aware, we at Care & Support West support all Adult Social Care providers by way of the Workforce Development Fund. (WDF)
This fund is provided by the Government and dispersed via Skills for Care, aided by WDF Partnerships throughout England.
Care & Support West support you and this initiative by running a WDF Partnership. Please see our dedicated website page
Workforce Development Fund 2021 — Care & Support West (careandsupportwest.com)
The Workforce Development Fund is designed to support Social Care staff gain qualifications, while aiding organisations training budget. Paid retrospectively, it goes some way to cover the cost of those valuable qualifications, you and your staff gain so much benefit from.
Our current WDF year 2023-24 is drawing to a close, however there is still time to engage and benefit from the fund!
Important dates to be aware of - as follows:
Any certificate gained during the period 1st January 2023 until 31st May 2024 is applicable for claiming, provided they are listed in the Skills for Care Q & L guide WDF funded qualifications and learning 2023-24 (skillsforcare.org.uk) The claim date for the WDF year 2023/24 has been extended from 31 March 2024 providing you meet the criteria.
28th February 2024, is the cut off date for becoming a member of the WDF Partnership. This is a form filling exercise, and cost nothing to join. Please complete this form Members Declaration Form 2023-24 (skillsforcare.org.uk) and return to karen.holley@careandsupportwest.com.
28th March 2024. Is the cut off date for registering and updating the Adult Social Care-Workforce Data Set. (ASC-WDS) This is a requirement of claiming from the WDF. Please take a moment to watch this short video which explains the reason of the ASC-WDS ⇨ Watch the video
If you would like to know more about the ASC-WDS. Skills for Care invite you to join a virtual tour on Thursday 1 February 2024 I 15:30 – 16:30 I Zoom. Join us for this session which is designed to give social care providers who don’t yet have an ASC-WDS account a demonstration of how the service works. It will be a practical demonstration of the service and will show you first-hand the key features which are already being used by over 20,000 care providers.
More News -
Have you heard about the new Level 2 Care Certificate due to be launched June 2024.
The Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification is due to launch in June 2024. It will be accredited ensuring its quality and recognition by employers as care workers come to work for them. This will also reduce the costs and burden of repeat training on employers.
DHSC will be providing up to £53.91m of funding to support 37,000 individuals in direct adult social care roles to complete the new qualification between June 2024 and March 2025. Eligible employers will be able to apply for reimbursements towards the cost of the qualification on behalf of their employees. Employers must be registered on the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASWDS) to be eligible for reimbursement.
Currently 54% of direct care workers do not have a level 2 or above qualification. The introduction of the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification will provide a baseline standard and help recognise our care workforce and the professional career that it is.
For more info please take a look at the skills for care web page Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification (skillsforcare.org.uk)
We at Care & Support West are here to support you with the Workforce Development Fund and invite you to contact us to find out more. Karen.holley@careandsupportwest.com