A key challenge within the Health and Social Care sector is ensuring the workforce has the most up-to-date knowledge and baseline skills needed to deliver high-quality care and succeed in their roles. With over 52% of the direct care workforce currently lacking a Level 2 or above qualification, there's a strong focus on enhancing skills through quality skills training.

To address this, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is committed to a professional, well-supported social care workforce. As part of this commitment, the Quality Assured Care Learning Service (QACLS) has been introduced.

Funded by the DHSC, the QACLS is designed to review and assure the quality of individual training courses and qualifications delivered by training providers. Its core purpose is to ensure that the learning, development, and training available is of high quality, easily accessible, and effectively meets the needs of both the workforce and the people who rely on care and support.

The government views quality, relevant, and accessible learning as critically important, especially in a sector facing a staff retention crisis.

And the good news is, Realise is QACLS endorsed!

4 Benefits of QACLS Endorsement

For training providers like us, successfully meeting the QACLS quality standards brings several important benefits:

• 1. The Mark of Quality - As a training provider with QACLS approval on 11 courses, Realise can proudly display the QACLS approval mark where relevant. This mark is a clear indicator for employers to look out for when choosing a Health and Social Care training provider.
•  
• 2. Recommended & Visible - Realise is recommended to the DHSC for inclusion in the publicly available list of eligible training courses and qualifications within the Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS) for the adult social care workforce. This list is intended to help adult social care employers and commissioners of learning find high-quality training opportunities.
•  
• 3. Aligned with the Care Workforce Pathway - Realise’s QACLS-approved courses can be linked to relevant role categories and learning outcomes in the Care Workforce Pathway as suggested learning.

• 4. Building Confidence & Retention - For employers and care staff, the QACLS endorsement helps to provide confidence in the quality of training their staff will receive. This investment in training and support for staff is seen as a crucial incentive for staff recruitment, retention, and development within the workforce.

A Rigorous Approvals Process

Training providers applying for QACLS endorsement must provide evidence to meet specific quality standards designed for adult social care training delivery.

There are nine core quality standards applicable to all providers, with additional standards for specific qualifications or programmes, such as the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism.

QACLS Approval is Here to Stay

All training and development funded through the LDSS will be quality assured by the QACLS. This transition is planned in phases, recognising that it's a significant change for the sector:

Phase one (2024 – 2025 financial year): Training providers can apply to be quality assured. Employers can still claim funding for eligible courses in the LDSS that are not yet quality assured.

Phase two (2025 – 2026 financial year): Courses and qualifications from quality-assured training providers will be identified as preferred options for the sector. Employers can still claim funding for non-quality assured eligible courses in the LDSS.

Phase three (2026 – 2027 financial year): Only courses and qualifications from training providers that have been quality assured through the QACLS will be eligible for funding or inclusion in the Care Workforce Pathway.

Employers will not be able to claim funding for non-QACLS courses identified in the LDSS list.

Final Thoughts

Realise intends to grow and develop its portfolio of QACLS-approved Health and Social Care qualifications, with more programmes already in the approvals pipeline.

We share the DHSC’s commitment to a professional, well-supported social care workforce and understand the critical importance of accessible, high-quality training that meets the sector's needs.

We strongly advise employers to get ahead of the curve by choosing a QACLS-approved training provider, particularly as future phases of the LDSS are planned to centre funding eligibility on QACLS approval.

Choosing a training programme that meets rigorous QACLS standards is a powerful strategy for enhancing staff recruitment, retention, and overall development - ultimately benefiting both your workforce and the service users they support.

Learn more about our QACLS-approved courses.