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Individual employer funding

If you employ your own care and support through a personal budget from social care or health (personal health budget) or using your own money (this is sometimes called being a 'self-funder'), you can apply for funding to train you and your personal assistants (PAs).

Watch our video about the funding available.

 


The fund can be used for training to develop you as an employer and/or to develop the skills of your PA. Any training that you would like funded must be started by 31 March 2021.

The funding could also be used to cover the direct costs of training and qualifications, travel and the cost of hiring replacement support whilst your usual PA is attending training.

Want to know more?
Read about how other employers have used the fund.

 

⇨ Download our guidance ‘How to apply for funding for training’

This guidance explains more about the funding, how to complete the application form and what documents you need to send with your application.

 

To apply for funding, you'll need to complete the application form and email it to funding@skillsforcare.org.uk.

 

To apply for funding, you'll need to complete the application form and email it to funding@skillsforcare.org.uk.

You can ask for assistance to complete the application form, but only you as the employer can agree to the conditions of the grant.

Download the application form:

Application deadline:

  • Please send your applications to us before midnight on Sunday 28 February 2021.
  • Any training that you want to be funded must be started by 31 March 2021.

 

⇨ Download and find answers to FAQs for Individual Employer funding.

If you have any questions or need help with the application form you can:

✉: funding@skillsforcare.org.uk  |  ☏: 0113 241 1275

 

View our privacy policy and full terms and conditions of all grants issued:

We will consider all applications for funding on a case by case basis. If successful, we will usually tell you within 30 days and arrange payment directly into your bank account.

 

Keep up-to-date

There's lots of work happening, nationally and locally to support individual employers. Sign up to our ‘Newsletter for individual employers and those who support them’ to keep up-to-date.

 COVID-19: Essential training

Whilst face to face training may not be possible at this time, some training remains a priority. We’ve worked with our endorsed providers to make this essential training available, which can also be accessed by PAs and their employers. It is recommended PAs discuss training needs with their employer first, then they or their employer contact the learning provider to make sure the training course would be suitable.
⇨ Access our 'Essential Training'

How have others used the funding?

  • Perveen Ahmad applied for funding to pay for a tailored package of training for her PAs, including nutrition and hydration, moving and handling and mental health awareness. She said: "None of this would have been achievable without Skills for Care funding." 
    ➥ Read more about the training. 

  • Ella McCance applied for funding to pay for her team of PAs to do the Care Certificate and other training including equality and diversity, Mental Capacity Act and person centred care planning. She told us: "the training has helped my PAs to be more confident and knowledgeable about my specific care needs."
    ➥ Read more about the training.

  • Pauline Drury applied for funding on behalf of her daughter Natalie, to train her PAs to deliver rebound therapy sessions. Natalie and her PAs have benefit from the training. Her Mum, Pauline says: "It allows us to feel that Natalie is in safe and knowledgable hands when we're not with her."
    ➥ Read more about the training.

  • Sharon Taylor-Brown applied for funding to pay for her PAs to attend training as part of the Care Certificate. She told us: "The funding enabled to training to be delivered in my own home so it was personalised to my needs."
    ➥ Read more about the training.

 

 

Employing personals assistants toolkit

Our 'Employing personal assistants' toolkit will help you to think about your responsibilities and legal obligations as an employer. It guides you through the process of recruiting a personal assistant and what to do when they’re working for you, including training and managing them. 

The toolkit includes practical examples from other individual employers and templates to help. 

⇨ See the online toolkit

You can also email us for a free printed copy. 

 

   

Money for training individual employers 

Money for training individual employers can pay for training courses, expenses to get to and from the training and for a replacement PA. Here are some of the courses that you can apply for funding for.

⇨ Download the Money for training individual employers 

More information

Useful resources about employing your own care and support staff can be found on the information hub for individual employers and personal assistants.

 

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Skills for Care Ltd, West Gate, Grace Street, Leeds, LS1 2RP.

Registered company no. 3866683. Registered in England charity no. 1079836. Group VAT no. 135 538313.