Individual employer funding
If you employ your own care and support through a personal budget from social care or health (i.e. 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.
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'
Please note: Applications for funding are now closed.
We hope that applications for 2020-21 funding will open in spring 2020. Sign up to our ‘Newsletter for individual employers and those who support them’ to keep up-to-date.
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.
It has practical examples from other individual employers and templates to help.
Visit the online toolkit here.
You can also email us for a free printed copy.