ASC Training & Development Fund cut
Planned ASC Training & Development Fund to be ended
Yesterday The Minister for Care Stephan Kinnock released a ministerial statement outlining that the Training & Development Fund for the sector was to be scrapped: ‘… Adult Social Care Training and Development Fund proposed by the last Government, decisions around which had been suspended since the announcement of the election, will not be continued.’
‘Whilst the Adult Social Care Training and Development Fund will not be taken forward, we still intend to provide funding for Adult Social Care Learning and Development, with the budget maintained at the level we spent last year,’ he said.
Vic Rayner, CEO of the National Care Forum said: ‘Social care reform takes another hit – ministerial statement just posted on last day pre recess announces that significant increases to training funding promised for the sector will not materialise.’
Jane Townsend, CEO of The Homecare Association said: ‘The choice to abandon charging reform and extra funding for training raises concerns about the future of social care policy in England.
There is a pressing need for a long-term, sustainable solution to the funding and provision of adult social care. Despite warm noises from the Labour government about fair pay and a National Care Service, there is no sign of the investment needed to make this possible.’
We will continue to monitor developments for members and raise the profile of adult social care being such a vital lifeline to so many.
This daily lifeline can only happen through having highly trained and qualified staff.