Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism Tier One – Non-Clinical Colleagues

Oliver McGowan training is the standardised, national programme developed in response to the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training in Learning Disability and Autism Code of Practice (2022), following the tragic death of Oliver McGowan.  The training aims to ensure that all staff have the skills, confidence, and awareness to provide equitable, person-centred care Oliver’s story highlights the devastating consequences when people with a learning disability or autism do not receive appropriate care.  In November 2019, following proposals to introduce mandatory learning disability and autism training for health and social care staff, the government published Right to be heard. In it, the government confirmed that the training would be named after Oliver McGowan, recognising his story and family’s tireless campaigning for better training for staff. Since then, a training package to be co-delivered by experts with lived experience has been trialled, developed and evaluated. The training draws on existing best practice, and the expertise of autistic people, people with a learning disability, and family carers, as well as subject matter experts. In July the Health and Care Act 2022 introduced a requirement that regulated service providers ensure their staff receive training on learning disability and autism which is appropriate to the person’s role. The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism is the standardised training that was developed for this purpose and is the government’s preferred and recommended training for health and social care staff to undertake.