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If you're an employer in one of the advertised local authority areas, you can claim funding directly from Skills for Care.

To make a claim from the Workforce Development Fund (WDF) you need to sign up by completing and returning your declaration form by 29 February 2024, updating your Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set account by 28 March 2024 and submitting your claim by 31 May 2024.

There are a few simple steps you'll need to follow and below you'll find some useful tips to help you complete each step.

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Take a look at our guidance for employers accessing WDF Fund directly from Skills for Care.

 

Complete your ASC-WDS Account

You’ll need your Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) account number to complete your declaration form. If you haven’t got an ASC-WDS account you’ll need to set one up. Find out how to create an account.

To claim WDF for your organisation you must complete or update both the workplace record and 90% of your staff records in your ASC-WDS account(s) on or after 1 April 2023 and by 28 March 2024. Please note that due to the Easter bank holidays, the final check of accounts meeting the ASC-WDS requirements will be done on 28 March 2024.

 

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Review the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set requirements for the Workforce Development Fund 2023-24 to see the full information which you need to complete.

 

Set up or log-in to a ASC-WDS account

 

Sign up to access the fund

Your completed declaration form must have been sent to Skills for Care by 29 February 2024.

When your declaration form has been fully checked and approved a grant letter is issued to you electronically for signature.

Once we have received your signed grant letter and you have updated your ASC-WDS account, we will send you a claim form which includes your grant reference, along with all the necessary information on how to make a valid claim. 

 

Making a claim 

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Find out which qualifications, learning programmes and digital learning modules can be funded through Worforce Development Fund.

 

The evidence requirement to claim funding is a copy of the learner’s certificate and is issued following completion of the learning. Please note that dates differ depending on the type of learning. Learner certificates must contain the following information:

 

 

Qualification certificates, including the apprenticeship diploma certificate

The learner certificates must include the following information:

 

  • date of issue of the certificate - this must be between 1 January 2023 and 31 May 2024

  • name of the awarding organisation
  • name of the learning provider or centre number. 

 

Final apprenticeship certificate

Please note: the certificate must be issued by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE).

 

  • candidate name
  • unique learner number
  • name of apprenticeship
  • apprenticeship code - this can be written on the certificate

 

Learning programme certificates

 

  • date of issue of the certificate - this must be between 1 January 2023 and 31 March 2024

  • name of endorsed learning provider. 

 

Digital learning modules

 

  • candidate name
  • date of birth
  • name of digital module

 

Once your learner has completed their qualification, learning programme or digital module, complete the grant holder claim submission form and the claim form that has been sent to you by Skills for Care and submit these with a copy of the learner’s certificate(s) to directaccess.wdf@skillsforcare.org.uk.

Please refer to our how to put a WDF claim together guidance to support you in making a claim directly from Skills for Care.

As an employer, you’re responsible for maintaining a clear audit trail of funding received and spent. We recommend you keep evidence of learning and development funded through WDF as you may be asked to confirm details.

 

Receiving payment from Skills for Care

Once the claim has been verified, you’ll receive payment from us.

To enable all employers to have the opportunity to claim funding during the year, we operate limits to the amount that can be claimed by individual organisations. We’ll advise you if you reach your limit. If you do reach your limit there may be opportunity to access additional funds at the end of the funding year which will be communicated directly during March 2024.

 

FAQs

FAQs for employers applying via Skills for Care