Adult social care employers in England may be able to claim towards eligible staff training through the Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS). This is an employer reimbursement scheme with specific conditions. Check the current rules before booking or paying for a qualification.
This article previously described a “2025 Workforce Levy” as a general route to funded NVQ upgrades and included unsupported success stories. Those claims have been removed. The information below concerns the official LDSS guidance checked on 8 September 2026.
Who should check eligibility?
The Department of Health and Social Care employer guide says eligible employers must provide adult social care services, directly employ care staff in England and maintain an up-to-date Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set account. Funding depends on the employer, staff member and selected course meeting the rules.
Do not assume that every course called an NVQ, or every member of staff, qualifies. The guidance distinguishes eligible training and qualifications and has separate arrangements for Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training. Check the course against the current list before making a spending commitment.
Which financial year applies?
The 2026–27 grant determination covers eligible training and qualifications paid for between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027, subject to the scheme conditions. Earlier payments have their own determination. An instalment arrangement can affect which rules apply, so use the official document for the payment timing.
Prepare a training funding record
Keep a practical record for each proposed course: its exact title, the training provider, the employee’s role, the payment date, planned start and completion dates, and the evidence required. Record who checked eligibility and the version or date of the guidance used.
Before committing, ask the training provider for the information you need to check the course against the scheme. Keep the invoice and proof of payment separate from evidence of attendance or completion. Agree internally who will submit the employer’s claim and follow up if more information is requested.
Recheck the rules before claiming
Reimbursement is subject to the scheme’s limits, evidence requirements, deadlines and available funding. A course booking or an employee’s enrolment does not itself guarantee payment. Use the current employer guide and grant terms at the point of deciding and claiming.
The official adult social care learning and development collection also links to other programmes, including support for newly qualified social workers and user-led organisations. Each programme has its own audience and rules; do not treat them as interchangeable training pots.
If you are a care worker
Discuss the qualification with your manager or training lead. Ask how it relates to your role, whether the employer can apply for relevant funding, what study time is available and whether there are any repayment terms in your employment agreement. Keep a copy of any agreement before starting.
For Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, check the relevant national workforce and funding bodies. England’s LDSS eligibility should not be presented as UK-wide.