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If you’re a domiciliary care worker in England dashing between client homes, managing medication rounds, supporting independence in familiar surroundings, or dealing with the unpredictability of home-based care, you know how vital ongoing training is. CQC inspections demand it, the people you support deserve the highest standards, and you want to build a career that feels rewarding rather than just surviving long days on the road.
But funding those qualifications? In domiciliary care, where travel eats time and budgets are tight for both workers and small providers, personal costs or agency overheads often make training feel out of reach. The great news: Government-backed funding streams are still very much available in 2026, especially through the Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS) for the 2025/26 financial year.
This scheme, run by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and administered by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), reimburses eligible employers for a huge range of practical training, often 60% upfront and 40% on completion. With pots limited and the March 31, 2026 deadline looming for starting eligible courses, now is the time to act.
Add in individual options like the Advanced Learner Loans and 2026 becomes the year many domiciliary carers finally get that Level 3 Diploma, refresh safeguarding skills, and step into leadership without draining personal finances or company resources.
At Access Skills, we deliver flexible online training designed for domiciliary teams: modules you can complete between visits, real-home scenarios (like safe moving and handling in narrow spaces), and full support for funding claims. We’ve helped hundreds of home care workers and employers turn funding into qualifications that boost confidence, compliance, and career progression.
In this comprehensive guide to care training funding for 2026, we’ll cover everything domiciliary care-focused, funding eligibility, covered courses, amounts, deadlines, other options, and how to get started.
Let’s make sure funding never stands in the way of better home care.
Who Qualifies for Care Training Funding for 2026?
If you work in domiciliary care, it’s completely normal to wonder if funding schemes are actually meant for you or they’re just designed for large organisations or office-based roles.
The reality is reassuring because this funding is for the people delivering care in the community.
The Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS) supports the non-regulated adult social care workforce in England. Meaning carers who are out there every day, travelling between visits, supporting people with personal care, offering companionship, and helping individuals live independently in their own homes.
If your work happens in someone else’s home rather than a care setting, you are very much included.
In domiciliary care, eligibility typically covers:
- Frontline care workers, support workers, and personal assistants (PAs)
If you’re directly employed, working flexible hours, or on a zero-hours contract, you are eligible as long as you’re legally employed in England and hold a UK National Insurance number. - Senior carers, deputies, and registered managers
If you’re leading teams across the community, covering shifts, managing people, and carrying responsibility alongside care delivery, this funding recognises the need for your continued development too. - Agency workers delivering home care
Working through an agency does not exclude you. Your skills, experience, and progression still matter to the wider sector.
- International care workers legally working in the UK
If you’re contributing to domiciliary care and have a UK National Insurance number, you’re eligible. Your role in supporting people at home is just as important.
One key thing to be aware of is that individual carers don’t apply directly for LDSS funding. Instead, the claim is made by your employer on your behalf.
This means your domiciliary care provider needs an up-to-date Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) account with Skills for Care. If that sounds complicated, it doesn’t have to be. Many smaller home care agencies haven’t used it before, and setting it up is often quicker and simpler than expected. We’ve supported many providers through the process and we are always happy to help.
And if you’re an independent carer, self-funding your development, or currently transitioning between roles, you still have options. Advanced Learner Loans allow you to fund your training personally, without employer involvement (more below).
Qualifications Covered by Care Training Funding for 2026
The Learning and Development Support Scheme is first-come-first-served and uses a reimbursement model tailored for cash-flow conscious domiciliary providers:
- 60% paid upfront once the course is paid for and started (claim within 3 months or by March 31, 2026).
- 40% on successful completion and submit evidence within 3 months of finishing (or by December 31, 2026 for most).
Employers pay accredited care training providers like Access Skills, and submit claims via the NHSBSA portal with ASC-WDS. We provide all evidence templates and support to maximize success.
For individuals, the Advanced Learner Loans cover 100% of fees for eligible Levels 3 – 6 qualifications with no upfront cost, repaid only if earning over the threshold (~£25,000+). No credit/income checks.
Many domiciliary employers recover nearly full costs, making high-quality training almost free.
LDSS Funding covers different, high-impact courses aligned with CQC expectations and Skills for Care standards, perfect for domiciliary care’s focus on independence, risk in home settings, and person-centered support.
Top eligible qualifications:
- Care Certificate covering all 15 standards + updated autism/LD awareness: Essential induction for new domiciliary starters, covering home-specific topics like safeguarding
- Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate: With up to £1,540 reimbursement, you will build a solid foundation for everyday home support
- Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care: Covered by LDSS funding up to £835 to help domiciliary care workers build skills in care planning, dementia, and complex needs
- Level 5 Diplomas in Leadership and Management: You can save up to £1,565 if you’re eligible for this qualification
- CPD refreshers and mandatory training – safeguarding adults, infection prevention/control, moving & handling, Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training (autism/Learning Disabilities), dementia/end-of-life care, digital skills for care apps/scheduling
One of our recent learners shared: “Funding my NVQ Level 3 Diploma via LDSS with the support of my employer lets me handle more complex domiciliary cases confidently without feeling out of my depth in unfamiliar homes.“
Deadlines for Care Training Funding in 2026
Timing matters in care and not just with medication rounds and visit schedules. When it comes to training funding, missing a deadline can mean missing out completely, even if you were fully eligible.
If you’re reading this before March 2026, that’s a good sign. It means you’re still within the window to access funding for the 2025/26 financial year, and you have time to act now.
That said, these deadlines arrive quicker than most people expect, especially in domiciliary care where days blur into each other and training often gets pushed to “later”.
Key funding deadlines to be aware of:
- 31 March 2026
This is the last day to start and pay for eligible LDSS-funded courses. After this point, the door closes for this funding year, even if the course itself runs beyond March. - 20 March 2026 – Oliver McGowan Training
This comes earlier and often catches people out. Claims for Oliver McGowan training must be completed within the financial year, so planning ahead here is essential. - Up to 31 December 2026
Completion claims can be submitted up to three months after the course finishes, giving some breathing space once training is underway.
As deadlines approach, availability tightens, places fill quickly, and many providers, especially smaller domiciliary agencies miss out simply because they didn’t have clear guidance in time.
That’s exactly why we’ve created free LDSS Funding resources to help both care workers and employers secure funding without added stress. Because training should support your work not become another thing you feel you’ve fallen behind on.
- 31 March 2026
How to Claim Domiciliary Care Training Funding in 2026
Access to funded training in domiciliary care isn’t just a nice extra. It supports staff retention, strengthens practice, and contributes to a positive CQC outcome.
For domiciliary care employers
Employers can claim LDSS funding by paying 60% of the course cost upfront and claiming the remaining 40% on successful completion of the qualification.
The process is straightforward once eligibility is confirmed. If you’re unsure where to start or need support with the application or claims process, we offer guidance to help you move through it without unnecessary delay.
For individuals and self-funded learners
If you’re funding your own training or working independently, Advanced Learner Loans provide a direct route to access eligible qualifications.
The process follows these steps:
- Choose the course you wish to enrol on
- Confirm the course is eligible for funding – Check Eligibility
- Request your Learning and Funding Information Letter
- Apply online with Student Finance England
- Provide proof of identity
- Receive confirmation and begin your course
This route allows you to progress without relying on employer funding, giving you control over your development while spreading the cost over time.
Don’t Miss Care Training Funding in 2026
If you’re already in care, don’t let qualification cost stop you from progressing in your career and if you’re considering a career in care, your thoughts are valid and we are happy to walk you through everything you need to get started and stay the course.
It’s okay if you need some time to think but you need to act before March 31, 2026, explore course options, talk to your employer, or reach out to us.
》 Explore funded qualifications
》 Contact us at info@accessskills.co.uk or call 0121 510 2169
