Workforce Development Fund 2019-20

What is the Workforce Development Fund?

The Workforce Development Fund (WDF) is funding from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) disseminated by Skills for Care. It supports the provision of high quality care and the continuing professional development (CPD) of staff across the adult social care sector by providing a contribution towards the costs of vocational learning. The fund allows you to claim back money towards the costs of workers completing a broad range of adult social care qualifications and learning programmes, a full list of which can be found here.

What will the WDF fund?

You can claim funding towards the cost of qualifications and learning programmes completed between 1 January 2019 and the 29 May 2020. This includes money towards the cost of course fees (or employer contributions) and associated costs such as:

• employees’ salaries whilst they are undertaking training
• coaching and mentoring costs
• venue costs for the training
• wage replacement costs.

All costs must be incurred before WDF is claimed and employers must ensure that they have records in place to evidence the costs of any funding claim they make.

Application Deadline

To access the 2019-20 WDF you must complete and submit a declaration form before 28 February 2020 and claims must be submitted to Skills for Care by 29 May 2020 to access the fund.

How to apply

There are two application routes to access the WDF which depends on where you’re located. Through both routes you will be required to complete and submit a declaration form before 28 February 2020 and claims must be submitted to Skills for Care by 29 May 2020 to access the fund.

• Apply directly to Skills for Care >>
• Apply through an employer-led partnership >>