WDF Eligibility Criteria

Dear Care Provider

ACT would like to inform you of the changes that Skills for Care are making to the criteria for WDF (Workforce Development Fund) in this coming financial year 2011-12. This will affect all establishments claiming this funding as from 1st April 2011. Employers will be required to fully complete individual NMDS-SC worker-SC online at:

www.nmds-sc-online.org.uk

A key requirement to claim funding last year was to complete the NMDS-SC inline with the requirements set out below. To aid organisations this year Skills for Care have decided that any establishment that met the NMDS-SC eligibility criteria from last years funding cycle will be eligible to claim funding from the Workforce Development Fund until 30 September 2011.

Otherwise for an establishment to be eligible for the Workforce Development Fund in 2011-12, the following three criteria must be met:

1. An establishment which has completed an NMDS-SC organisational record before 1 April 2011 must fully update its organisational data.

2. The establishment must fully complete individual NMDS-SC worker records for a minimum of 90% of its total workforce (this includes any staff who are not care-providing).

3. Individual records for workers completed before 1 April 2011 which are included in the 90% calculation must be both fully completed and updated.

Skills for Care specify that a full organisational completion means that each of the following data items (shown below) must be either completed (or updated), so as to accurately reflect the position at the establishment on the completion date.

Current Investor in People status voluntary and other staff
Establishment type
Main and other services provided
Service users whom services are provided
Service capacity and uptake level
Numbers of staff permanently and temporarily employed

Numbers of bank/pool, agency, student
Numbers of staff leaving and starting in past 12 months
Number of vacancies
Reasons for leaving
Destination of leavers

Skills for Care specify that full worker's details completion means that each of the following data items (shown below) must be either completed (or updated), so as to accurately reflact in each individual worker recorder (which comtributes to the (90% figure) on the completion date.

Gender
Date of Birth
Nationality
main job role
Other job roles (if applicable)
Start date (in main job)
Source of recruitment

Contracted hours of work
Additional hours worked
Full-time or part-time
Working arrangements
Salary
Induction status
Sickness absence

Employment status
Qualifications held

For full details please read the following guidance document NMDS_guidance_2011_12.pdf

Employers completing NMDS-SC online will have access to specialist individuual telephone and on-line support from the NMDS-SC helpdesk: 0845 8730129. Also employers can access solutions to their questions by accessing: www.nmds-sc-online.org.uk and will find answers to frequently asked questions: