Image from freepik Investing in the adult social care workforce
I know how important learning and development is for those working in adult social care. When staff have the opportunity to build skills, gain recognised qualifications and progress in their careers, it helps raise the quality of care and makes adult social care a more rewarding career to join and stay in.
That is why I am pleased to confirm continued funding for adult social care learning and development in financial year 2026/27. This package of support is worth up to £13.3 million and includes up to £10 million for the Learning and Development Support Scheme, up to £2.3 million for the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment, and up to £1 million for the User-Led Organisations fund.
Supporting employers to invest in trainingThe Learning and Development Support Scheme, administered by NHS Business Services Authority, will continue to help eligible adult social care employers invest in training courses and qualifications for their staff. Since it launched in September 2024, the scheme has already accepted thousands of claims from employers to help staff develop new skills, gain recognition for their existing expertise and strengthen the quality of care they provide.
Guidance has been updated to support employers to understand eligibility and how to access the scheme.
Backing newly qualified social workersI am also pleased that support for newly qualified social workers will continue. In financial year 2026/27, up to £2.3 million will be available to support eligible adult social work employers across statutory, private, voluntary and independent sectors. This funding can be used for activities that help newly qualified social workers build their skills in practice and receive the support they need in the early stages of their careers.
From financial year 2026/27, this funding will be administered by NHS Business Services Authority.
Supporting personalised care and supportAlongside this, support will continue for the training of individual employers and personal assistants through the User-Led Organisations fund. Up to £1 million will be available in financial year 2026/27, with funding available to User-Led Organisations to provide training that responds to people’s individual needs. This is an important way of making sure learning and development opportunities reach different parts of the adult social care workforce, including those working in more personalised care arrangements.
From 1 April 2026, this funding will also be administered by NHS Business Services Authority, providing a consistent national approach to the delivery of ASC learning and development funds.
Find out more and share the guidanceFurther information, including guidance and application routes, has been published on GOV.UK Adult Social Care Learning and Development Programme through the adult social care learning and development programme pages. I encourage employers, sector partners and organisations to share this guidance widely, so that as many eligible organisations as possible are aware of the support available.
seen at 18:39, 1 April in Social care.