Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 22
22
Accepted
Limited progress on workforce reforms, dependent on delayed new payments platform
Recommendation
We welcomed the Department’s introduction of a new framework aimed at providing consistent career progression for the social care workforce (the Care Workforce Pathway) in January this year.54 However, we challenged the Department on why it had made so little progress overall on its workforce reforms which, even after scaling back, make up £265 million of the £729 million remaining for system reform.55 The Department told us that nearly all the budget goes on training and explained that these training initiatives were, in turn, dependent on the development of a bespoke new payments platform to pay suppliers directly.56 This includes the £136 million project for improving workforce training and development, originally planned for launch in September 2023, and the project to increase the number of regulated professionals, against which there was zero spend in 2022–23.57
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation and expects the new payments system to begin making payments from the end of June 2024, enabling employers to claim funding for training courses and the new Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification. The department will update the Committee on Fund take-up before the end of the 2024-25 financial year.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2024 5.2 The department would like noted that not all workforce reform projects are associated with this payment system and work to deliver reforms has progressed ahead of the payment system being available. 5.3 The department is planning to provide updates on progress of the payments system and the workforce reform projects associated with it. 5.4 The department recently published guidance setting out the scope and eligibility criteria for training and development for which employers will be able to apply for funding support. This has provided employers with information to support their workforce training plans ahead of the payment system going live. 5.5 The payment system is on track to start making payments from the end of June 2024 with a phased approach to bringing specific funds online, ensuring that the largest proportion of allocated funding for the sector is made available first. From June 2024 employers will be invited to submit claims for the new Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification, and against a targeted list of training courses and other qualifications set out in the guidance. Support for Continuing Professional Development specifically for regulated professionals such as nurses and occupational therapists will follow. 5.6 The department will update the Committee on Fund take-up before the end of the 2024-25 financial year.