Care home and home care managers get £3m to spend on training

For the first time, care managers can apply for dedicated funding to develop their skills and knowledge.

Targeted funding from the Workforce Development Fund is being offered to specifically develop care managers and their deputies.

There are 21,000 registered care managers and their deputies who will be able to access this £3m fund.

Skills for Care Interim chief executive, Andy Tilden, said: “We’ve been talking to registered managers through our local registered manager networks and engaging through our membership scheme and other initiatives. They’ve been telling us loud and clear that they really need this support.”

Skills for Care hopes the funding will enable managers to delegate more, with Mr Tilden saying: “We also know the impact on managers who do too much due to not having deputies and team leads to share the workload. We’ve made a clear case that this is a role that’s often isolated, so needed targeted backing from the Workforce Development Fund.

“I’m delighted we’ve been successful in now being able to offer this very significant pot of money. All the data shows when you have an outstanding registered manager then people can access high quality services in their communities.”

Skills for Care’s research shows that at least 10,000 registered managers will retire over the next 15 years, so the £3 million fund is also designed to support organisations to get their succession planning right.

As well as targeted funding for managers, the WDF is now open to any adult social care employer in England to support the continuing professional development of their staff at all levels, offering funding for qualifications and learning programmes. This year also includes enhanced funding for the completion of apprenticeships standards.

For more information about the WDF and how to apply, go to www.skillsforcare.org.uk/WDF. To find out more about support and funding for social care managers and deputies, go to www.skillsforcare.org.uk/succession.

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