Monitoring data indicate that in the 12 months to September 2003 around 140,000 people in England have registered for a Care NVQ and 60,000 have been awarded a certificate. Relevant care NVQs in organisations providing social care include Care (NVQ levels 2, 3 and 4), Caring for Childcare and Young People (NVQ level 3), Promoting Independence (NVQ level 3) and Special Housing Needs (NVQ level 3 and 4) with the latter three having been introduced in 1998. A more detailed survey undertaken in 2000 estimated the drop-out rate among NVQ participants to be 17%.

Social services departments in 2002/03 spent, according to the National Training Strategy, an estimated 2.4% of staff expenditure on training, but were due to spend 3%. In comparison the independent care home sector spent, in 2001, 1.5% on mandatory training. 

Source: SHCWG 2004, SCHWG 2003 and SHCWG 2002