Funding the new Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification

We participated in a very interesting Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) webinar last week to discuss the future direction of Apprenticeships following the launch of ‘Skills England’ and the promised ‘Growth and Skills Levy’.

Whilst both AELP and the Department for Education agreed we are very much in the foothills of policy development, it would seem imperative that we as a sector must push for the new Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification to be included in the following funding streams as a minimum:

1. Any proposed ‘flexibility’ within the current Apprenticeship Levy.
2. Included on any Skills England ‘approved’ list of qualifications.
3. Is added to the ASF funding stream (it is Ofqual regulated).
4. Is included in all devolved regional budgets.
5. Added to the list of WDF-approved qualifications.

We need both Skills for Care and the Department of Health and Social Care to be proactive and take the lead on this issue, ensuring the sector is fully represented and not treated as a ‘Cinderella’ service. In light of the recent turmoil following the launch of the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification, the sector cannot afford to miss out on any changes (or opportunities) to funding streams or eligibility. History shows us that employers have been presented with overly complex funding and eligibility criteria, when we really needed a unified approach.

It may well be early days for ‘Skills England’, but we need to get on the front foot and see positive engagement, feedback (to employers) and timely updates from our sector champions if employers are to make informed workforce planning decisions and support the roll-out of the new qualification.

This needs to be a priority if the opportunity is not to be missed.