User-led Organisation Training Fund

Funding for user-led organisations (ULOs) to support training for individual employers (IEs) (with respect to adult social care) and their personal assistants (PAs). It replaces the ULO and IE funding schemes previously delivered by Skills for Care.

As each care user’s needs are unique, there are no restrictions on the type of training eligible for this funding. However, applications must provide a justification for the training planned to ensure use of this fund is appropriate. Examples of previously approved training includes mental health awareness, dementia training and basic first aid.

As a guide, expected training costs are between £25 and £150 per person, per day. Where training costs are outside of this range, additional information may be requested for justification.

Who will be able to apply for funding

ULO funding can only be claimed by an eligible ULO, towards the cost of eligible training and development provided to IEs and PAs. To qualify as an eligible ULO for the scheme, an organisation must meet all of the following criteria:

• be run for, and by, deaf or autistic people, or people who have a disability or long-term health condition
• have a minimum membership of 75% of disabled people on its board and employ disabled staff and volunteers, including disabled people, people who use mental health services, people with learning disabilities, older people and their family or carers
• be engaged in the provision of training for IEs and PAs

Eligible ULOs must:

• be able to demonstrate how they are organisations which are run for, and by, people with a disability, long-term health condition or social care need. Such organisations are also sometimes referred to as a disabled people’s organisation (DPO)
• have direct contact with adults who employ or contract with PAs, and access to their contact details
• have communicated with and identified the learning and development needs of IEs and PAs, and be able to deliver a training programme that meets those needs