How the WDF has helped others

Learn how other have used the Workforce Development Fund (WDF) to help make improvements to their organisation and workforce.

You can also download our statistics for the previous funds: 

2014-15 I 2015-16 I 2016-17 I 2017-18 I 2018-19 I 2019-20 I 2020-21 I 2021-22

Impact evaluation

The Workforce Development Fund is a funding stream from the Department of Health & Social Care disbursed to social care employers by Skills for Care. It aims to support take-up of vocational learning in adult social care by providing a contribution towards the cost of learning. An independent evaluation of the Fund over 2019-22 found that:

• 91% of employers said it improved the skills and qualification levels of their staff team (N=163)
• 87% said it improved the quality of care they provide
• 81% said it addressed the most pressing skills gap in their organisation.

People who employ their own care and support (individual employers) and user-led organisations reported a wide range of positive impacts arising from the funding, including improved knowledge and skills and – for individual employers – a better appreciation of their roles and responsibilities as employers. High proportions of individual employers stated that it had made their care and support more relevant to their needs, had made training more affordable and had helped them to retain their personal assistants.

Case studies

See how others have used the Workforce Development Fund to develop the skills of their workers in these case studies:

• Thorndene 
  Used the money to maintain the standards and quality of service offered at this private residential care home.
• Rocklee Limited 
  Used the money to develop and maintain the team’s professional development for the benefit of its residents.
• Hazelwell Lodge 
  Used the WDF to address skill gaps and to improve access to higher level social care roles through specialist training, with the aim of providing residents with improved care.
• Crime Reduction Initiatives (CRI) 
  Used the WDF to support the development of its staff and volunteers and to contribute towards a stretched annual training budget.
• Creative Support 
  Used the money to develop a national workforce that has experienced phenomenal growth over the last few years.
• Bluebird Care 
  National provider that used the money to support the ongoing professional development of its staff to maintain and improve the quality of care and support.  

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