How to Access LDSS Funding and What Adult Social Care Providers Need to Know 

Funding learning and development in adult social care is essential, but for many providers it can feel complex and difficult to navigate. Rising costs, recruitment challenges, and increasing expectations around quality and compliance all place pressure on already stretched training budgets. 

The Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS) was introduced to support adult social care employers in England to invest in their workforce by reclaiming the costs of eligible training, qualifications, leadership programmes, and CPD. Importantly, LDSS has replaced the former Workforce Development Fund (WDF), creating a single national approach to workforce learning and development funding. 

This blog explains what LDSS funding is, who is eligible, what training can be funded, how to claim, and what providers are achieving through LDSS funding. It also explains how services can stay LDSS-ready without creating unnecessary administrative burden. 

What Is LDSS Funding? 

The Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS) is the national workforce funding programme for adult social care in England. 

LDSS funding exists to help providers: 

• Build skills and capability across the workforce 

• Improve recruitment and retention 

• Support progression into specialist, leadership, and management roles 

• Reduce the financial burden of training and qualifications 

LDSS operates as a claim-back scheme, meaning providers pay for eligible learning upfront and then reclaim costs once training has been delivered and evidenced in line with scheme guidance. 

Two LDSS Funding Pots Explained 

LDSS funding is split into two distinct funding pots, each supporting different types of learning. 

1. Main LDSS Funding Pot

This pot covers most workforce learning and development activity, including: 

• Regulated qualifications aligned to adult social care roles 

• Non-regulated training that supports role competence 

• Leadership and management programmes 

• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses 

Claims from this pot follow the standard LDSS process and evidence requirements. 

2. Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training Funding

A separate LDSS allocation exists specifically for Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training, which is required for staff who support people with a learning disability and autistic people. 

Key points: 

• This funding follows a different claim process 

• Eligibility depends on service type and staff roles 

• Providers must evidence who requires the training and that it has been completed 

Although claimed separately, accurate workforce records remain essential for planning and evidencing this training. 

👉 Oliver McGowan Training Guide

Who Is Eligible for LDSS Funding? 

LDSS funding is only available to eligible adult social care employers in England. 

To be eligible, providers must: 

• Be a registered adult social care provider in England 

• Deliver regulated adult social care services 

• Employ staff within those registered services 

• Have an active and up-to-date ASC WDS account 

LDSS funding is not available to: 

• Providers operating outside England 

• Individuals funding their own training 

• Organisations not delivering adult social care 

• Services without a current ASC WDS return 

Eligibility checks form part of the claim review process. 

Eligible Training and Qualifications Under LDSS 

Only eligible, quality-assured learning can be funded through LDSS. Training must be relevant to adult social care roles and contribute to workforce capability. 

Eligible learning includes: 

• Regulated qualifications aligned to adult social care occupational pathways 

• Leadership and management programmes recognised by Skills for Care 

• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) that supports care delivery 

• Specialist training linked to service needs 

Funding cannot be claimed for informal or unstructured learning with no clear outcomes or evidence. 

Skills for Care–Funded Leadership and CPD Learning Delivered by CareTutor 

Leadership and management development is a core priority within LDSS funding, recognising the impact strong leadership has on retention, quality of care, and service sustainability. 

Under LDSS, Skills for Care–recognised leadership programmes and CPD courses are eligible for funding when delivered as quality-assured learning and aligned to scheme criteria. 

CareTutor delivers a range of Skills for Care–funded leadership programmes and CPD courses, designed specifically for adult social care providers. These programmes support providers to: 

• Develop confident and capable leaders 

• Strengthen management practice across services 

• Support progression for supervisors, managers, and aspiring leaders 

• Reduce the cost of leadership and CPD learning through funded provision

👉 Click here to view CareTutor’s Skills for Care fully funded leadership programmes. 

When planned alongside accurate workforce data and appropriate evidence, this learning can form part of a successful LDSS funding claim. 

Quality-Assured Care Learning: A Core Requirement 

LDSS funding can only be claimed for quality-assured learning. 

This means training must: 

• Be delivered by a competent and appropriate provider 

• Have clear learning outcomes 

• Be relevant to adult social care roles 

• Be supported by evidence of delivery and completion 

This ensures public funding supports meaningful learning that improves care quality and workforce capability. 

Why ASC WDS Still Matters 

While LDSS funding is the focus, ASC WDS underpins eligibility and claims. 

ASC WDS is used to: 

• Confirm provider eligibility 

• Verify staff roles and employment status 

• Link learning activity to workforce records 

• Support assurance and audit processes 

Providers without an up-to-date ASC WDS return may experience delays, additional evidence requests, or rejected claims. 

👉 ASC-WDS Guide

👉 Click below to watch Skills for Care’s video explaining ASC-WDS