Individual employer funding
If you employ your own care and support staff (through a personal budget from health or social care or using your own money), you can apply for funding to train you and your staff.
If you work with individual employers please share this ‘Money for training’ leaflet with them – you can email Skills for Care to request printed copies on marketing@skillsforcare.org.uk.
Watch our video about the funding available.
What can I claim for?
You can apply for funding to pay for training to develop you as an employer and to develop the skills of your PA.
It can cover the direct costs of training and qualifications, travel costs and the cost of hiring replacement support whilst your usual PA is attending training.
If you receive a personal health budget the funding can be used for care related training. The funding can not be used for any delegated health tasks that are included in your care plan – training for these essential tasks must be met by your local NHS organisation.
Read about how other employers have used the fund here.
How can I apply?
To apply for funding, you need to complete the application form and send it to us with all necessary documents. You can download this as a PDF or Microsoft Word document. There's also an EasyRead version.
You should also read the guidance document which explains more about the funding and how to complete your application. There's also an EasyRead version.
You can ask for assistance to complete the application form, but only you as the employer can agree to the conditions of the grant.
To claim funding during the 2018/19 funding year, you must send your application with all necessary documents any time before 5pm on Thursday 28 February 2019. Any training that you want to be funded must be started by 31 March 2019.
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What happens next?
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.
You might find our frequently asked questions about individual employer funding useful.
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.
More information
More information and useful resources about employing your own care and support staff can be found on the information hub for individual employers and personal assistants.
If you have any questions please call 0113 2411275 or email funding@skillsforcare.org.uk.