As an individual employer you can apply for funding to train yourself and your personal assistants.
This funding is now open for 2025/26 applications and it can be used to cover training costs to develop your skills as an employer, direct costs of completing training/qualifications, hiring replacement support whilst your usual Personal Assistant (PA) is attending training courses and travel.
You can apply for up to five training courses per person and once completed you can apply for more.
The training is bespoke and personalised to the Individual Employer (IE) and their needs.
Who can apply?
This funding is available for IEs living in England, aged 18 and over who employ their own PAs or contract* self-employed PAs, using either:
- their own money
- adult social care direct payments
- NHS Personal Health Budgets.
'Contracted' refers to PAs with true self-employed status. PAs can check whether they are self-employed online using the check employment status for tax tool.
We will ask for evidence from self-employed PAs accessing training.
Deadline for applications
Deadline for all applications is midday Friday 13 March 2026 and all funded training courses must be started before Tuesday 31 March 2026.
Support to apply
PDF - 253 KB
Guidance for Individual Employers applying for funding to train themself or their PA.
Question and answer sessions
If you are thinking about applying and want to know more you can join one of our Q and A sessions where we'll be running through how to apply, exploring the benefits of developing yourself and your PAs and answering any questions.
Please email funding@skillsforcare.org.uk for the joining details.
Further calls will be arranged for the rest of the year.
Frequently asked questions
Our FAQ document shares answers to commonly asked questions. If you have futher questions not answered in the document please contact us funding@skillsforcare.org.uk or join one of the above sessions.
My son Tom applied for Individual Employer Training so he could receive additional hand and foot massages. Tom experiences significant discomfort in his hands and feet due to his health condition, and massage provides immense relief. Thanks to Skills for Care, Tom’s PAs have now received the necessary training to administer these massages, which will make a real difference to his well-being.
Ross feels comfortable and safe with all his Personal Assistants. It's given him the freedom and choice to stay in his own home. The training increased the confidence of our staff and has given me peace of mind.
Jayne Cartlidge on behalf of Ross Clarke, Individual Employer
Approved funding
Already applied for funding? You will be contacted within four weeks if your application is successful, payment will be arranged directly into your bank account.
Contact us
If you have a question about the funding or need support completing the application process please contact funding@skillsforcare.org.uk or call 0113 241 1275.
Case studies
Learn how have others used the funding to make improvements in their care.
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."
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."
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."
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."
User led organisation funded training
Find out about funded training available through User Led Organisations (ULOs).
Access our information for individual employers and personal assistants
Our individual employers and personal assistants area bring together useful information from lots of different places to help with employing your own support.
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