Funding for Digital Skills training

We’re strong believers in the need for some ‘joined-up thinking’ on social care training, qualifications and funding, and believe it needs addressing head-on.

For example, we’ve recently launched our ASC Digital Skills micro-learning to help providers meet the recommendations within the new Care Workforce Pathway. However, there is a glaring omission within the plan – it does not signpost employers to the existing fundable qualifications. For example, in 2023 the Department for Education launched its Digital Functional Skills Qualification (DFSQ), fundable via Adult Skills budgets. The DFSQ aligns well with the Care Workforce Pathway ambition and strategy – so why is this not being shared directly with employers, and will it ultimately be added to the list of WDF-approved qualifications?

Historically, too many funding decisions appeared to be taken in isolation, with some qualifications being funded by ESFA (AEB/ASF) and some (but not all) also appearing on the WDF list. Frustratingly, it was not always clear what the rationale behind the decision was, with WDF funding in particular being far too opaque for employers to have any faith in when planning budgets. This lack of foresight has to change moving forward. There is money on the table, and yet employers are being short-changed by our sector representatives due to a lack of joined-up thinking across government departments.

And so, as Skills England continues to emerge, we need to ensure that both the DHSC and Skills for Care are represented at the top table to guarantee that social care gets the recognition and clarity it deserves. We are often referred to as the ‘Cinderella’ service and it’s time for our representatives to step up and ensure all sources of current and future L&D funding are shared with and made available to the sector.

For our part at EdgeWorks, we have our innovative Funding Alliance programme, designed to help employers unlock access to valuable funding streams that deliver transformational change – it’s hard work, but the results speak for themselves. We now need some joined-up thinking across DFE, DHSC, Ofsted (following their current Big Listen review), ESFA and Skills for Care to drive forward information sharing, planning and ultimately take-up of the various funding streams that already exist.