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.

What can I claim for?

The money can be used to pay for training to develop you as an employer and to develop the skills of your PA(s).

It can pay for training courses, expenses to get to and from the training and for a replacement PA when your usual PA is attending training.

It can be used for different types of training like moving and assisting, first aid, communication, dementia awareness, diabetes awareness, risk assessments, skills for employers, and qualifications like a diploma in health and social care.

How can I apply?

Before you apply for funding, read this guidance document which explains more about the funding and how to complete the application form.

When you've read the guidance document, complete the application form and send it to us with the relevant documents. You can download it as a Word document or a PDF document.

Applications can be sent at any time up to 17.00 on 28 February 2020.

If you have any questions, read these FAQs, or get in touch via email (funding@skillsforcare.org.uk) or phone (0113 241 1275).

Help us to spread the word

We want as many individual employers as possible to apply for funding, so please help us to spread the word. These resources can help:

'Money for training' A4 leaflet - please share this with your friends and contacts
'Money for training' A3 poster - please put this up to tell others about the funding.

You can email us for free printed copies of the leaflet and poster.

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.
Rosie Till supported her husband, Steve, to apply for funding for two of his PAs to do adult social care qualifications. Lisa is doing the Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care, and Natalie is going the Level Diploma in Leadership. Rosie told us: The training will help us structure our team of six PAs by providing Natalie with the skills to lead the team. I hope this will mean I can spend more quality time with Steve.
Read more about the training.
Robert Sagill is a personal assistant, and his employer applied for funding so he could do a Certificate in Health and Safety at Work and a Level 3 Health and Social Care Diploma. He told us: "Needless to say I now have a greater understanding in this field. Personally I have more confidence in my role as a PA.."
Read more about the training.
Kate Fenwick applied for funding for one of her PAs to attend a QCF Level 2 DBG Signature Communicator Guide course. She told us: "The training has made Lois more confident when she’s supporting me, and I feel more confident to join in with my local community."
Read more about the training.

'Employing personal assistants' toolkit for individual employers

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.