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The WDF application form and guidance can be found at the bottom of this page.
This fund is to help towards the cost of QCF and NVQ training you have completed (Further information on the new QCF can be found further down this page).
This is a new funding stream from the Department of Health disseminated by Skills for Care, its aim is to support the ongoing professional development of staff across the Adult Social Care Sector through vocational qualifications. It replaces what was previously called the Training Strategy Implementation Fund (TSIF).
Care Learning is again managing a share of this national fund for adult social care voluntary and independent sector employers including micro-employers and direct employers (people who employ their own care and support staff).
Care Learning only distributes this fund in the West of England area (Bristol, Bath & Nth East Somerset, Sth Gloucestershire and Nth Somerset) and Gloucestershire to claim when their staff achieve specified training.
The Workforce Development Fund must not be used in conjunction with other publicly provided funding streams to ‘double fund’ the same outcomes.
What units are eligible for funding?
QCF and NVQ units can be claimed throughout the 2011/12 funding year, please refer to the list of acceptable units for further information on these. This includes QCF awards, certificates and diplomas.
Skills for Care have extended the deadline for NVQ unit claims which now need to have been completed and sent to us by 16 March 2012.
Acceptable Evidence:
We can only accept units that are listed on the list of acceptable units including in the contract. We are able to accept the following evidence for these units:
- For all units - Unit summary sheet (from the assessment centre or awarding body) with the candidate name, registration/enrolment number and unit code (e.g. HSC385), signed and dated by the assessor and signed and dated by the internal verifier.
- We also accept internal verification progress reports or equivalent. These must: contain the candidate’s name, candidate registration/enrolment number, be signed and dated by both the assessor and internal verifier against each unit being claimed for, state the completion date and the QCF short code achieved.
- All dates for units must be between 1 January 2011 and 16 March 2012 for the internal verifier.
- We are unable to accept certificates as evidence.
- In addition you may provide the unique learner number, however this is not mandatory.
EVIDENCE OF COSTS - you must provide evidence of the cost of training, either a copy of a receipt, proof of payment or a signed letter declaring full costs incurred.
How much is the grant worth?
- For QCF units you will receive £8.50 per credit. QCF units have up to 12 credits (e.g. Health and Social Care Diploma Level 2, minimum 46 credits = 46 x £8.50 = £391.
- For NVQ units you will receive £68 per unit
You can submit units as they are completed, you do not have to wait until the full qualification has been completed.
Where can I download the WDF application form?
See attachments at the bottom of this page
Further Information and Guidance
Can I claim funding from more than one source (i.e. Apprenticeships)?
It is possible for a claim to be made under WDF as employers can claim funding from more than one source. However, you need to ensure that you do not ‘double fund’ the same outcomes. It is an employer’s responsibility to ensure that they do not claim more funding than the cost to them of an employee undertaking training. It is for employers to determine the cost to them of employees undertaking training but costs such as course fees, employees’ salaries and back fill if required can be included. The overarching principle is that employers cannot make a profit from employees undertaking training. Employers must ensure that they have records in place to support any funding claims that they make for audit purposes as checks can be undertaken at any time.
What is the QCF and what qualifications are available?
The QCF is a framework proposed to replace the existing National Qualifications Framework (NQF). The framework is a new way of recognising skills and qualifications. It does this by awarding credit for qualifications and units (small steps of learning). It enables people to gain qualifications at their own pace along flexible routes. Please download and read the Skills for Care QCF update leaflets on the supporting materials page.
The Health and Social Care (HSC) NVQs level 2 and 3 have now been replaced by Health and Social Care (HSC) Diplomas at Level 2 and 3 (launched Jan 2011). The choice now includes a generic HSC Diploma or the option of a specialist Dementia pathway or Learning Disability pathway which will allow learners to tailor their learning to their job role.
The QCF is designed to make sure future qualifications allow a flexible, 'mix and match' approach to meeting the different development needs of the workforce.
Every unit and qualification in the framework will have both a credit value and a level. One credit represents 10 hours of average learning time and so the credit value shows how much time it takes to complete.The level shows how difficult the unit or qualification is and this can be anywhere between Entry Level and Level 8.
There are three sizes of qualification in the QCF:
- Award (1-12 credits)
- Certificate (13-36 credits)
- Diploma (above 36 credits) - not linked to the 14-19 Diploma.
Further information on the QCF can be found on the Skills for Care website at www.skillsforcare.org.uk/qcf
Do you fund short courses such as First Aid and Food Hygiene or Induction (CIS)?
Funding for short courses and induction is no longer available.
Please refer to the "List of acceptable units" - this is available to download at the bottom of this page.
Can I submit units throughout the year?
You can submit as many batches of units as you want throughout the funding year. If you intend on submitting all your units towards the deadline then the funding may have already been used up. QCF and NVQ units can be submitted on unit completion so you do not have wait until the full qualification is completed.
What is the deadline for submitting of applications?
QCF and NVQ units: Friday 16th March 2012
No application can be accepted after these dates. Please do not leave applications to the last minute! Funding is given on a first come-first-served basis subject to our equitable distribution policy and relevant criteria. Correct applications received early are more likely to be successful than applications received nearer to the deadlines. We cannot guarantee the success of any application submitted.
Does Care Learning offer training for QCF?
No, Care Learning does not offer training for QCF. We have a list of training providers available at the following link: http://www.carelearning.org.uk/training/training-providers-list?catid=2
We recommend contacting your local training providers and colleges to see what qualifications and which units they are offering under the QCF.
What is the NMDS-SC (National Minimum Data Set for Social Care) criteria?
The NMDS-SC gathers information about the social care sector. It has been designed to gather information about services and information about the social care workforce.
Each establishment/member is required to complete their NMDS-SC data to the following criteria in order to claim WDF during 2011-2012:
- An establishment must fully complete and update an NMDS-SC organisational record after 1 April 2011.
- The establishment must fully complete individual worker records for a minimum of 90% of its total workforce (this includes any staff who are not care-providing). These must be fully updated after 1 April 2011.
We are unable to process any funding claims until the NMDS-SC criteria has been met.
See attachments at the bottom of this page to download the simple quick guide and NMDS-SC worker questionnaire these are to assist you in completing the NMDS-SC.
Need support? Care Learning can provide free support in meeting this criteria to enable you to submit your WDF claims, please contact Philip on 0117 973 3695 or email
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Lost login details? If you already have an NMDS-SC account but have lost your username and password then please contact the NMDS-SC helpdesk on 0845 873 0129.
Update: November 2011 - New NMDS-SC report available to check criteria for WDF
A new report is available for individual establishments who are logged into NMDS-SC, it details whether the establishment meets the NMDS-SC requirements for claiming the workforce development fund (WDF).
Hyper links to the “my establishment report” and “my worker list” are included and running these reports will highlight the gaps in the data so that updates can be made. The “my worker list” report has changed slightly as all the fields for funding are grouped together under a banner.
The new report is a live report so that an employer can run it, make the updates, run it again and get an updated position. This prevents establishments having to contact the helpdesk to find out if their data meets the NMDS-SC requirements for WDF but if any support is required with NMDS-SC then please contact the helpdesk on 0845 873 0129.
Is the WDF available in other parts of England?
A full list of partnerships offering this funding is available at: http://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/funding/skills_for_care_funding/partnerships.aspx
What other funding is available?
Information on funding through the Leadership and Management Advisory Service can be found here.
Need further help?
If you need any further help then please contact Philip at Care Learning on 0117 973 3695 or email
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.
We can also assist you in completing the National Minimum Data Set for Social Care (NMDS-SC) for free when applying for this fund.
Note: Membership of the Care Learning Partnership in regard to the WDF
You are required to sign a declaration, when applying for the WDF, that states that you are “a member of this partnership”. This declaration, and therefore your ‘membership’ of Care Learning is only relevant to your WDF application and does not entitle you to any membership rights of Care Learning Limited. Care Learning offers its services to all adult social care voluntary and independent sector employers including micro-employers and direct employers (people who employ their own care and support staff) in the West of England area (Bristol, Bath & Nth East Somerset, Nth Somerset and Sth Gloucestershire). No membership is required to access any of the services, except for the WDF and signing this declaration meets this requirement.
Adult social care employers in Gloucestershire are entitled to claim the WDF and receive support on the NMDS-SC (in relation to a WDF claim) and signing the declaration entitles you to this only. Other services provided by Care Learning are not freely available to employers in Gloucestershire (except this website which is free and accessible to any employer.
If you have any questions regarding this please refer them to Bernard Wildsmith, Manager of Care Learning, email:
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tel: 0117 303 5097 |
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