Thousands of Adult Social Care Providers Could Be Missing Out on Training Funding

Adult social care employers in England are being encouraged to check whether they are eligible for funding to support staff learning and development through the Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS).

The scheme, funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), has been confirmed to continue during the 2026/27 financial year. It enables eligible employers to claim reimbursement towards the cost of approved training courses and qualifications for eligible members of their workforce.

The funding is designed to support workforce development by helping staff gain new skills, develop specialist knowledge and progress their careers within adult social care. It is available to eligible adult social care employers delivering regulated and non-regulated services in England, subject to the scheme’s eligibility criteria.

To make a claim, employers must ensure they have an up-to-date Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS)account. Claims can only be submitted for eligible training that has been completed and paid for, and they must usually be made within three months of the course completion date. Funding is available until the allocated budget is fully committed.

The government has also published a list of eligible courses and qualifications for the 2026/27 funding year, alongside detailed guidance for employers on how to submit claims.

For providers looking to invest in their workforce while helping to manage training costs, checking eligibility for the Learning and Development Support Scheme could be worthwhile before arranging future staff development programmes.  Check it out.

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