4th December 2024
The Department of Health and Social Care has released information about a new support scheme that is now available for eligible, non-registered support staff. In this blog we’ll explain what this scheme means, how it will affect health and social care workers, and why it’s making our courses more accessible than ever.
The LDSS scheme enables eligible Adult Social Care (ASC) employers in England to claim back staff training costs. This funding is intended to be used for training courses so that caregivers can boost their skillset and provide the best care possible.
The adult social care sector is inherently complex, as each individual receiving care has unique needs and preferences. This diversity highlights the importance of ensuring carers have the appropriate skills and qualifications to provide tailored support.
Training providers like us do all we can to equip nurses and care workers with the skills they need to work with a wide range of individuals requiring care and support. However, we understand that with so many courses and qualifications available, it can be difficult to know which is best for your team. And although our prices are always reasonable, we understand that the cost can add up quickly when you have a fixed training budget.
This new scheme aims to fix this. ASC employers will have access to funding that enables them to send their staff on more training courses and qualifications, all with the intention of providing the best care possible.
If your team provides care for adults, there are a wide range of skills needed to cover all bases. Even when you only have a small number of clients, specialist training can be necessary.
Training courses and qualifications go beyond developing new skills. Achieving higher-level certifications enhances the quality of care provided and ensures compliance with relevant legislation, fostering confidence and professionalism.
If your staff are fully qualified to work with a range of adult clients with different care needs, you can expand your business by working with more people. With hectic schedules it also ensures that all your staff will be able to work with the majority of your clients (excluding very specialist care) so everyone is supported whenever they need it.
Providing training is also a great way to bring in new carers. The opportunity to learn and develop skills is a great selling point when you’re accepting applications, as carers will have ways to expand their knowledge and career prospects.
Like any medical field, Adult Social Care is always changing, meaning new techniques and developments happen all the time. To stay up to date with the latest updates, and to be sure you’re providing the service your clients need, our courses are essential for even your most experienced care staff. We pride ourselves on keeping our courses as up to date as possible, so we’re always providing you with the latest information no matter how long the course has been available.
Having funding available for training courses and qualifications is fantastic and will give a lot of ASC companies access to more training resources than ever. However, like all schemes, the amount you can claim back is limited, and needs to be used wisely.
Sometimes it’s obvious which courses are best. If your staff work with a certain type of client, such as specialising in end-of-life care or dementia care, our end-of-life care or dementia awareness courses are the natural choice. You may also be looking for more general training, allowing staff to expand their knowledge of a wider sector of care, such as our Introduction to Adult Social Care Certificate.
Choosing certain courses will allow you to niche down and provide a higher level of care for certain clients or will fill skill gaps so you can work with new people that require care. Adult social care involves supporting individuals with a wide range of unique needs and challenges, making it essential for professionals to have a thorough understanding of diverse topics to deliver effective and person-centred care.
We are pleased to share that we have been approved by Skills for Care and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) as a Quality Assured Learning Provider. Looking ahead to 2025, we anticipate being approved to offer the following qualifications:
| Qualifications | Agreed Funding | Note |
| Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate | £1500 per learner | To replace the Care Certificate |
| Level 2 Award in Awareness of Dementia | £125 per learner | |
| Level 2 Award in Awareness of End-of-Life Care | £125 per learner | |
| Level 3 Award in Epilepsy and Administration of Buccal Midazolam | £185 per learner | |
| Level 2 Certificate in Awareness and Prevention of Falls | £305 per learner | |
| Level 2 Certificate in Introduction to Autistic Spectrum Conditions | £305 per learner | |
| Level 2 Certificate in Mental Health Awareness | £305 per learner | |
| Level 2 Certificate in Principles of Medication Handling and Administration for Care Settings | £305 per learner | |
| Level 2 Certificate in Principles of Working with Individuals with Learning Disabilities | £305 per learner | |
| Level 2 Certificate in Understanding the Care and Management of Diabetes | £305 per learner |
Now that funding is available, your team will have access to a wider range of training than ever before and improving their certification levels won’t harm your budget.
We’re looking forward to seeing how the LDSS scheme will help companies to provide better care for their clients. And we’re proud to be able to support caregivers and health and social care workers.
All of our courses are designed to support staff of all ages and experience levels. They’re as interactive as possible and consist of a lot more hands-on activities than other course providers. As they are for groups, it enables multiple members of your team to gain the experience and knowledge they need.