Wider Sector Bursary Scheme (QCF)

The Scheme will be open to candidates from all independent sector partner agencies that are commissioned or contracted by Powys County Council to provide a social care service within Powys.  The service provision must be commissioned or contracted by Powys County Council.

• The candidate must be working within Powys geographical boundaries.
• The scheme is to develop the Social Care Workforce and therefore only applies to awards relating to Social Care or Caring for Children and Young People. 
• Candidates must have achieved their qualification via the social care route (rather than the health route). Units picked must be from the social care options that are available.
• The qualification matches the current requirements of the Qualification Framework for the social care sector as set by the Care Council for Wales
• Service providers will be responsible for acquiring places for their staff on QCF programmes
• All eligible certificates for the financial year 1^st April 2021 - 31^st March 2022 will be considered for bursary payments, subject to funds. Payments will be made direct to the employer, upon receipt of evidence specified in the application form & guidance.
• The Workforce Development QCF Bursary Scheme application form must be completed in full and appropriate evidence provided.  Evidence means a copy of the final certificate from the Awarding Body plus the candidate's signature on the application form. (Please do not send in original documents, as no responsibility will be taken for those that are lost.)
• Bursaries will be made payable via the service providers usual method of receiving payment from the Local Authority. Please make applications under the trading name of the company or organisation as held by Powys County Council.  The invoice from the service provider for the bursary should be included with the application.
• To recognise the commitment and the extra resources needed to release and replace staff to follow QCF programmes, a bursary payment will be made even if the service provider has managed to acquire free places on QCF programmes.
• The service provider may use its own or an independent QCF Assessment Centre
• The Local Authority will not provide bursaries for applications from service providers where the QCF has already been financed by Social Care Workforce Development Partnership funds.
• The Bursary Scheme will only be available until demand exceeds financial resource available for the financial year.
• Funding can only be claimed once in respect of any one candidate, even if they work for more than one service provider. In this instance, the bursary will be paid to the service provider which makes the first application.
• The bursary applicant's name must be the same as the name on the accompanying copy of the certificate (i.e.: no nicknames or abbreviations). Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure that all the information requested is provided.
• Where candidates have paid for their qualification, and the service provider is making a claim for the Bursary, any refund to the candidate is for the service provider and the candidate to resolve.
• Service providers agree to take part in an evaluation of the training and complete the annual Training Needs Analysis.

Bursary Amount

• QCF Diploma Level 2        £300
• QCF Diploma Level 3        £350
• QCF Diploma Level 5        £450
• QCF Diploma Level 6        £500
• QCF Diploma Level 7        £550
• QCF Diploma Level 8        £600

Contacts

• Email: practice.development@powys.gov.uk

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