Care providers in Staffordshire are being invited to apply for funding to help with the costs of training their staff.

The Workforce Development Fund (WDF) is being co-ordinated by Staffordshire County Council and is available to care providers across the county.

The fund allows providers to claim back money towards the costs of staff completing a broad range of adult social care qualifications, learning programmes and digital learning modules. Funding can also be put towards the costs of Diplomas in Care from Level 2 to Level 5 and apprenticeships.

Cllr Paul Northcott, Cabinet Support Member for Public Health and Integrated Care at Staffordshire County Council, is encouraging providers to make an application.

Cllr Northcott said: "Our priority is to make sure that people in Staffordshire can access the best care possible and to do this we need to have the right people with the right skills working in the sector.

"Working in care can be an extremely rewarding profession with lots of opportunities for progression and personal development. This is a fantastic opportunity for local care companies to train their staff while receiving a contribution towards the costs of learning.

"I would urge local care providers to register and make an application to the fund."

The Department for Health and Social Care funding is being made available through Skills For Care and providers must have an ASC-WDS account to be able to claim the funding. Full details along with how to register and apply are available at Workforce Development Fund (skillsforcare.org.uk). People can also email [email protected].