Funded training for care employers: claiming LDSS in 2026/27

WarningFunding schemes for employers in England change often. Check the official guidance before you book or claim.

The Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS) helps adult social care employers in England pay for staff training. You pay for an eligible course or qualification, then claim back the cost, up to a set maximum.

It’s run by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). Claims are made through the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).

The 2026/27 scheme covers training paid for between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027. The government has set aside up to £10 million for it this year.

Who can claim

You can claim if your organisation:

provides an adult social care service
directly employs care staff in England
has an up-to-date account on the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS)

This includes private and voluntary care providers, charities and local authorities. To stay up to date on ASC-WDS, you need to meet its minimum data requirements and update your account every year.

Which staff it covers

LDSS covers training for care staff who:

are legally employed by you in England
have a UK National Insurance number
are in roles that are not regulated by a professional body

That includes care workers, senior carers, and registered and deputy managers. It doesn’t cover regulated professionals, such as registered nurses.

What you can claim for

You can only claim for the courses and qualifications on the government’s eligible list. The qualification must be the exact one listed, with the same qualification number and awarding organisation. Check this with your training provider before you book.

You can claim for the course or qualification fee only. Wages, shift cover and travel are not included.

The list sets a maximum amount for each course. You get back what you actually paid, up to that maximum. The government hasn’t changed the maximum amounts for 2026/27.

How payments work

For courses, you claim once, within 3 months of the course being completed.

For qualifications, you claim in two parts:

60% once the qualification has started and you’ve paid for it. Claim within 3 months.
40% once the learner completes it. Claim within 3 months of completion.

You must pay for the training before you claim, and you’ll need proof of payment. An invoice on its own isn’t enough.

One organisation can claim up to £400,000 in total. The fund is limited, and once it’s used up, claims aren’t paid. So it’s worth claiming as soon as you have the evidence.

How to claim

Check that your organisation and staff are eligible, and that your ASC-WDS account is up to date.
Check that the course or qualification is on the eligible list.
Fill in the NHSBSA onboarding form. NHSBSA will contact you to set up an onboarding appointment.
Book and pay for the training.
Submit your claims through the NHSBSA online claims service.

LDSS courses on this site

These qualifications have pages on this site and are on the LDSS list. The amounts are the maximum you can claim back per learner, for qualifications paid for between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2027.

Qualification	Qualification number	Maximum claim
NCFE CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Awareness of Mental Health Problems	601/3438/0	£315
NCFE CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Autism	601/6330/6	£315
NCFE CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Understanding the Care and Management of Diabetes	600/9311/0	£315
NCFE CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Falls Prevention Awareness	603/2552/5	£315

Other qualifications on the LDSS list

These qualifications don’t have their own page on this site yet.

Qualification	Qualification number	Maximum claim
NCFE CACHE Level 2 Award in Awareness of Dementia	600/3095/1	£130
NCFE CACHE Level 2 Award in Awareness of End of Life Care	600/4893/1	£130
NCFE CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Nutrition and Health	601/3389/2	£315
NCFE CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Understanding the Safe Handling of Medication in Health and Social Care	601/3404/5	£315
NCFE CACHE Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate	610/4131/2	£1,540
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Certificate in Understanding Autism	603/1935/5	£445
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Certificate in Understanding Mental Health	601/8968/X	£445
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care	610/7192/4	£835

The Level 2 Awards in Awareness of Dementia and Awareness of End of Life Care are short, knowledge-only qualifications. They’re a simple way to train staff in these topics and claim back the cost.

Other awarding organisations offer versions of some of these qualifications, such as the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate. Check the full eligible list on gov.uk for every qualification and amount.

LDSS and free courses

Some of these qualifications are also free to individual learners through the Adult Skills Fund, if they meet the rules. For example, they might be unemployed or earn less than £26,800 a year. Read who can get a free course.

If a member of staff studies a course for free, you haven’t paid anything, so there’s nothing to claim through LDSS. You also can’t claim twice for the same person on the same course.

Check if you can get a course for free

Whether you can study for free depends on the course you choose and on finding a provider that can fund you. So start with the course:

Choose a course you're interested in.
Answer a few quick questions in the "Am I eligible?" check on its page.
See whether you're likely to be eligible, and which providers offer that course.

Find a free course

Or choose a subject:

The check is a guide, not a promise. The provider makes the final decision.

Questions

Can individual care workers claim LDSS?

No. Only employers can claim. If you employ your own personal assistant, Skills for Care runs a separate fund for individual employers.

Can I use any training provider?

The qualification must be the exact one on the government's eligible list, from an eligible awarding organisation. Check the qualification number with the provider before you book.

Can I claim for a course that was free?

No. LDSS pays back what you've actually spent, and you need proof of payment. If a member of staff studied a course for free, there's nothing to claim.

Can I claim for training done as part of an apprenticeship?

No. Courses and qualifications taken as part of an apprenticeship are not covered. Apprenticeships are paid for through the apprenticeship funding system instead.

Can I claim for wages or travel?

No. LDSS pays back course or qualification fees only. Staff wages while they train, cover for their shifts and travel costs are not included.

Is there a limit on how much we can claim?

Yes. There's a maximum amount for each course, and one organisation can't claim more than £400,000 in total. The overall fund is limited, so claim as soon as you have the evidence.

Sources

Last reviewed: 19 October 2026