Skills for Care welcome extension to funding for NVQ Level 2 and 3 Social Care qualifications

News release 8 June 2010

Skills for Care has welcomed the decision by the Skills Funding Agency to extend the period of time that funding will continue to be available for new learners registering on NVQ Level 2 and 3 Social Care qualifications.

The funding for NVQs was due to be withdrawn in August 2010 as part of the planned transition to the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). But the Skills Funding Agency has now agreed - in consultation with Skills for Care - to continue to provide funding for eligible learners in this area starting NVQ Level 2 and 3 Social Care qualifications up until 31st December 2010.

This Skills Funding Agency list of NVQ qualifications that will not be funded beyond 31^st July 2010 can be found at http://qcf.skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk/qcf-funding/confirmationfunding/.

From January 2011 a new range of qualifications will be introduced to replace the current Health and Social Care NVQ at level 2 and level 3. These will be called Health and Social Care Diplomas at Level 2 and level 3. There will be options to take a generic HSC Diploma or a specialist Dementia pathway or Learning Disability pathway which will allow learners to tailor their learning to their job role.

Skills for Care is committed to the introduction of the new qualifications as part of the QCF and is working closely with all partners to ensure that all the necessary arrangements are in place for their introduction.

"Skills for Care have played a key role in negotiating this change which will help to ensure that the introduction of the new QCF qualifications goes ahead smoothly," says Skills for Care CEO Andrea Rowe.

"This very welcome decision will allow training providers/colleges to plan for the new academic year with confidence. It will also mean that employers can continue to access the training they need in order to ensure that their staff are fully trained and competent during the transition period."

Media enquiries:

Paul Clarke: 0113 2411297/ 07977519287. paul.clarke@skillsforcare.org.uk

Notes to editors:

1. Skills for Care is the employment-led strategic body for workforce development in adult social care in England, which is licensed jointly with its UK allies by UKCES to be the 'Skills for Care and Development' Sector Skills Council (SSC). Both organisations are chaired by Professor David Croisdale-Appleby. The other members of the SSC are the Children's Workforce Development Council (also for England), the General Social Care Council, the Scottish Social Services Council, the Care Council for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Social Care Council.
2. Skills for Care forms a strategic overview of workforce needs in adult social care, which accounts for nearly 1.5 million workers or 5 per cent of England's workforce, spread over more than 35,000 employers. Skills for Care members are drawn from groups representing public, private and voluntary sector care employers, along with representatives of staff, trainers, service users and informal carers. Social care includes residential care, domiciliary care and social work with all its specialisms.
3. Skills for Care and its SSC allies promote and develop the social care sector's National Occupational Standards which are statements of competence that describe 'best practice'.
4. Skills for Care regional committees are major brokers of funding for social care workforce development.