The Oliver McGowan MandatoryTraining in Learning Disability and Autism package is not yet available. NHSHealth Education England are working with their partners to finalise the standardised training packages and the trainer training for early 2023.
Future updates will be shared widely and made available on the Frequently Asked Questions webpage, please check these pages regularly for details.
What is The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training in Learning Disability and Autism?
This training will ensure staff working in health and social care receive learning disability and autism training, at the right level for their role. They will have a better understanding of people’s needs, resulting in better services and improved health and wellbeing outcomes.
Where did it come from?
In November 2019, the Government published 'Right to be heard' its response to the consultation on proposals for introducing mandatory learning disability and autism training for health and social care staff.
The response included a commitment to develop a standardised training package. The training will draw on existing best practice, the expertise of people with autistic people, people with a learning disability and family carers as well as subject matter experts.
Why is it called The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training in Learning Disability and Autism?
The training is named afterOliver McGowan, whose death shone a light on the need for health and social care staff to have better training. To find out more about Oliver, visit the Oliver McGowan campaign ® website or watch Oliver's mother, Paula McGowan OBE, tell Oliver's story and explains why the training is taking place.
Oliver brought so much fun and happiness to our lives, he always saw the best in everything and taught us all how to challenge our own subconscious biases - Paula McGowan OBE, Oliver'sMother.
Training trials
During 2021, training developed by three training partners was trialled across the health and care sectors.NTDi, the independent evaluator, were appointed as the independent evaluator for the trials. Throughout the trial period we held regular stakeholder forums to keep people up-to-date. The fifth and final trial stakeholder forum took place on 25 May 2022, with over 650 people in attendance. You can catch up on this forum by watching the full recording of the event.
We celebrated the success of TheOliver McGowan Mandatory Training in Learning Disability and Autism trial and looked ahead to the future, hearing from speakers including: the Minister ofState for Care and Mental Health, Gillian Keegan, Chief Nursing Officer forEngland, Ruth May, Oliver's parents, Paula McGowan OBE and Tom McGowan, experts by experience and Dame Caroline Dinenage DBE MP about what Oliver's training means to them.
During the forum, the NDTi reported their trial evaluation findings and you can now access the overview this within the evaluation slide pack.
Evaluation reports:
Related videos (a selection of films shown at our previous stakeholder events):
TheHealth and Care Act 2022
The Government has now introduced a requirement for CQC registered service providers to ensure their employees receive learning disability and autism training appropriate to their role. This is to ensure health and social care workforce have the right skills and knowledge to provide safe, compassionate and informed care to autistic people and people with a learning disability. This requirement is set out in the Health and Care Act 2022.
The Secretary of State is required to publish a Code of Practice, which will make provisions about the nature of the training including the content, delivery and the ongoing evaluation of the training. The government must carry out a public consultation on the Code ofPractice. Timings of the consultation are currently being considered.
What happens next?
The Oliver McGowan MandatoryTraining in Learning Disability and Autism package is not yet available. TheDepartment of Health and Social Care are exploring with statutory bodies (NHSEngland and Health Education England), as well as with Skills for Care, which elements of the The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training in Learning Disability and Autism programme can start to be delivered while the Code of Practice is being produced.
Where can I find out more?
Updates will be posted on this page and the Frequently Asked Questions webpage, please check back regularly for details.
HEE and Skills for Care are co-ordinating the development of training in both health and social care. The training is being co-produced and delivered by autistic people, people with a learning disability and family carers. If you want to find out more, please email information.team@skillsforcare.org.uk.
