Impact Evaluation of the Workforce Development Fund 2013/14-2014/15
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Impact Evaluation of the Workforce Development Fund 2013/14 and 2014/15.
IRAS ID
173259
Contact name
Jenny Swift
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Skills for Care
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 17 days
Research summary
The Workforce Development Fund (WDF) is a funding stream from the Department of Health distributed by Skills for Care and supports employers in the adult social care sector by providing funding towards the cost of staff training. A separate WDF funding stream is available to support the learning and development of people who employ their own care and support workers (Individual Employers (IEs)) and their Personal Assistants. This tends to be known as Individual Employer Funding, although for the purposes of this application, 'WDF' is used as a collective term.
Employers can use the WDF to make a significant contribution towards the costs of their staff completing units and qualifications on the Qualifications and Credit Framework, as well as university qualifications included in the Higher Apprenticeship in Care Leadership and Management. It can also be used to help fund the delivery of intermediate, advanced and higher level Apprenticeships in social care.
This evaluation covers two years of the WDF: 2013/14 and 2014/15. Through a combination of quantitative and qualitative research, combined with the analysis of management information, it is designed to assess the reach of the WDF across the adult social care sector, its impact on employers, employees and IEs, its value for money and return on investment, and the extent to which it has influenced the wider market for training and development in this sector. The intention is that the primary research will take place in March and May 2015 (purdah will prevent fieldwork taking place between 27th March and 8th May). The final report from the evaluation will be submitted to Skills for Care in June 2015.
REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
15/IEC08/0021
Date of REC Opinion
13 Mar 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion