The Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS) for the adult social care workforce is offered by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) for 2025 to 2026. The LDSS is administered by NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).
Eligible adult social care employers in England can claim staff training costs from the LDSS in financial year 2025 to 2026. The funding is available for non-regulated care staff, including deputy and Care Quality Commission-registered managers and agency staff, within the adult social care workforce. To claim for funding your organisation will still need an eligible ASCWDS.
The scheme is now accepting claims for eligible courses and qualifications that have been paid for in financial year 2025 to 2026, as well as those paid for in financial year 2024 to 2025. Regardless of the financial year in which the training course or qualification was paid for, a 3 month claims window applies:
- For training courses – claims must be submitted within 3 months of course completion
- For qualifications – an initial ‘qualification’ start claim must be submitted within 3 months of the qualification being paid for and started (whichever is the later date) and the ‘qualification completion’ claim must be submitted within 3 months of qualification completion.
Updated information, including guidance for employers and a list of courses and qualifications eligible for funding, has been published on the Government website. There is also guidance and a webinar available from Skills for Care on how to make the most of this funding.