Skills for Care awarded two major DHSC contracts to strengthen the adult social care workforce
Skills for Care has successfully secured two major three-year contracts from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to strengthen support for the adult social care workforce in England.
The national adult social care charity was awarded the contracts following a competitive tender process.
The first contract will see Skills for Care deliver a large, integrated programme of workforce support for the adult social care sector, spanning recruitment, retention, upskilling and the adoption of innovative, evidence-backed practice. Operating at national, regional and local levels, the organisation will drive improvements across key workforce priorities, including embedding the Care Workforce Pathway, developing and maintaining qualifications and standards, strengthening digital and leadership capability, supporting strategic workforce planning, and enabling safe delegated healthcare and prevention-focused approaches.
The second contract covers Skills for Care’s continued management of the Quality Assured Care Learning Service (QACLS), which ensures that funded training and development is good quality, easily accessible, reflects the Care Workforce Pathway, and meets the needs of both the care workforce and people drawing on support.
Funding for both areas of work has been secured for the next three years and will begin in April 2026, providing a clear direction for Skills for Care and DHSC’s continued collaboration in developing a skilled, confident and future-ready workforce.
Additionally, Skills for Care has once again secured funding for managing the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS), which collects and reports on comprehensive workforce and organisational insights for the social care sector.
This includes the annual publication of a range of Workforce Intelligence reports such as the flagship ‘State of the adult social care sector and workforce report’ which provides a detailed examination of the sector, and is used by the Government, commissioners and other decision-makers to better understand the sector and inform key policies.
As an independent charity, Skills for Care has worked closely with the Department of Health and Social Care for 25 years to support both the adult social care workforce and the people who draw on care.
Securing these contracts strengthens the charity’s longstanding mission to support and empower current and future social care leaders, employers and the wider workforce.
The new contracts will run alongside Skills for Care’s ongoing work to futureproof the social care sector including leading on the Workforce Strategy for Adult Social Care in England, managing the Social Care Workforce Race Equality Standard (SC-WRES), and providing research and strategic leadership for the sector, including on key issues.
Oonagh Smyth, Chief Executive of Skills for Care, said:
We are delighted to have been selected to deliver these two significant programmes of work, which will support the 1.5 million+ people working across adult social care in England.
This investment recognises the essential role of the adult social care workforce and enables us to continue working with the sector to build the skills, confidence and capacity needed for the future.
We look forward to continuing to work closely with DHSC and our partners to deliver meaningful, positive impact for the people who work in social care and the people who draw on essential care and support services.
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