Workforce Development Fund

Welcome to the Workforce Development Fund for 2011-2012.

This is a new funding stream from the Department of Health disseminated by Skills for Care, its aim is to support the ongoing professional development of staff across the Adult Social Care Sector through vocational qualifications. It replaces what was previously called the Training Strategy Implementation Fund.

Please note that the Workforce Development Fund can only be utilised by Adult Social Care providers that employ social care staff within England.

The fund is distributed by Skills for Care via a network of employer led partnerships and Large National organisations. A 'partnership' is a collection of social care employers who come together to 'pool' their workforce development needs and potentially commission training to collectively meet those needs. A 'Large National' organisation is a social care provider that operates in three or more areas of England. There is also a 'Direct Access' allocation of the fund to support innovation and creativity within the sector. Skills for Care will contract directly with organisations or partnerships of any size operating at area or national level, who can demonstrate exciting, innovative or creative ways of undertaking workforce development.

Units Eligible for Funding

Workforce Development Funding is intended to support on-going professional development. Each year priority areas and potentially service areas will be prioritised and focused upon. Following discussion with the Department of Health it has been agreed that the following will be the priority areas for 2011-12:

• dementia
• end of life
• learning disabilities
• safeguarding
• management

A full list of acceptable Qualification Credit Framework units is available here - Eligible units

The Application Process and Timetable

The process of claiming Workforce Development Fund consists of two key phases. Firstly there is the process of tendering; if you wish to contract with Skills for Care as a Lead Partner, a Large National organisation you must make an application during this phase. Following the award of a contract the second phase involves the submission of evidence from members and subsidiaries via their Lead Partner or Head Office, at key milestone points during the year in order to draw down funding. The key dates for both phases are outlined below.

If you are interested in contracting with Skills for Care as a Lead Partner or a Large National organisation to distribute funds to your members or subsidiaries, or via the Direct Access route, please click on the link below for more information. www.skillsforcare.org.uk/wdfleadpartners

If you are interested in accessing Workforce Development Fund by becoming a member of a partnership, please click on the link below for more information. www.skillsforcare.org.uk/wdfmembers

For a list of successful applicants for workforce development funding in 2011/12 click here.

If you have any further queries please refer to 'Skills for Care funding' (Workforce Development Fund) under the Frequently Asked Questions section or email wdf@skillsforcare.org.uk.