Workforce Development Fund
- What is the Workforce Development Fund?
WDF is a funding stream from the Department of Health and Social Care which is claimed from Skills for Care by the adult social care sector in England.
It funds qualifications and apprenticeships which started on or before 31 March 2024 and which will complete by 31 March 2025.
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.
What can be funded
You can claim up to £2,035 per learner per funding year through the Workforce Development Fund. You can claim funding for the same learner in multiple funding years, to support their personal development and career progression.
Claim funding towards the cost of listed qualifications and apprenticeships. This includes money towards the cost of course fees (or employer contributions) and associated costs such as employees’ salaries whilst they are undertaking training, coaching and mentoring costs, venue costs for the training or wage replacement costs.
Applications
Claim directly from Skills for Care
All employers will claim WDF directly from us. Find out how to claim.
Application deadline
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.
https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Funding/Workforce-Development-Fund/Workforce-Development-Fund.aspx