Funding: Applications now open for Workforce Development Innovation Fund

The Workforce Development Innovation Fund (WDIF) supports innovative projects which increase the skills and knowledge of workers. The fund has a proven track record in helping improve service quality and embedding person centred values in the 1.5 million strong social care workforce.

One example of how the fund works is the support offered to an individual employer and personal assistant development group bringing together disabled people in Sheffield, their carers and social care professionals to discuss the issue of restraint. Disability Sheffield worked in partnership with Active Independence, and two other user led organisation groups, to develop an online tool that can be used by anyone to deliver training on restraint, and is free to download

Skills for CEO Sharon Allen said: “Adult social care is an ever evolving sector so this fund exists to support organisations to be innovative and think differently about the way they deliver services.

“We know it works as some of the projects it has supported have been created some brilliant solutions to difficult problems so I would urge anyone who wants to test their innovative ideas to make an application.”

Funding applications must meet one of the advertised priorities in the ‘What will be funded?’ section on the Skills for Care website www.skillsforcare.org.uk, and then be able to deliver to Skills for Care tangible resources or products which have been rigorously tested as part of the project.

You can visit Learn from Others http://learnfromothers.skillsforcare.org.uk to see how others have used the WDIF.

The deadline for applications is 1pm on Thursday 16 June 2016.