January 30th 2026
Having the right skills and knowledge is essential for delivering high quality care. Recent insights from Skills for Care give a clear picture of how training and qualifications are developing across the adult social care workforce, and where there is still work to do.
The data shows a sector that continues to build its skills base, but also highlights areas where further investment and support are needed.
Some of the key findings include:
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Just over half of direct care staff (54 percent) did not hold a relevant social care qualification in 2024/25. However, many of these staff were still developing their skills. Around 69 percent had engaged with the Care Certificate standards, 52 percent had five or more years of experience in the sector, and 81 percent had completed non-statutory training.
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Direct care staff were most likely to hold a Level 2 or Level 3 qualification (36 percent), while managers were more likely to be qualified at Level 5 or above (33 percent).
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There were around 23,420 adult social care apprenticeship starts in 2023/24, which is a 5 percent decrease compared to the previous year.
One of the most effective ways to strengthen workforce skills is through ongoing training and development. Providers can access funding for this through the Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS), which supports essential training such as the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training. To be eligible, organisations need an Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) account with up-to-date information. With the current funding window running until the end of March 2026, now is a good time to check your eligibility and make sure your data is up to date.
Keeping your ASC-WDS account updated also brings practical benefits for your organisation. It allows you to manage workforce data and staff records digitally, keep training and qualification records in one place, benchmark against local organisations for pay and retention, and access discounts through Skills for Care’s Benefits Bundle. It also ensures your organisation is contributing to a national picture of the workforce that helps decision makers plan, fund and support the sector more effectively.
The data collected through ASC-WDS feeds into national insights that help identify trends and areas where learning and development can make the biggest difference. These insights are shaping initiatives such as Skills for Care’s Keep learning to build your future focus, which supports staff to continue growing, upskilling and delivering outstanding care.
To find out more about ASC-WDS, create an account or update your existing details, visit the Skills for Care website.
Photo by Campaign Creators on Unsplash
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