The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism is the government's standardised training for health and social care staff. It exists because of Oliver, and because of the tireless campaigning of his family.
Why does it exist?
Oliver McGowan was an 18-year-old with a mild learning disability and autism who died in 2016 after being given antipsychotic medication, despite his family's concerns. His parents, Paula and Tom, campaigned for change, and the Health and Care Act 2022 now requires registered health and social care providers to make sure staff receive training on learning disability and autism that is appropriate to their role.
Co-delivered by people with lived experience
What makes the training different is how it is delivered. Every session is co-delivered by a trainer and an Expert with Lived Experience, a person with a learning disability or an autistic person. Learners hear directly from the people who live with the issues.
Two tiers, matched to the role
- Tier 1 builds general awareness and is suitable for staff who need an introduction to learning disability and autism. It is a 1-hour live webinar, taken after Part 1 eLearning.
- Tier 2 is for staff who may provide care and support to autistic people and people with a learning disability. It combines an eLearning module (Part 1) with a one-day face-to-face session (Part 2).
What it means for your organisation
Providers need to identify which tier each role requires, book staff onto the right sessions, and keep clear records. Delivering the training in person, with an Expert with Lived Experience in the room, also tends to lead to more open conversations and more lasting change in practice.
Yorkshire Futures delivers both tiers. We have now trained over 1,000 learners, and we offer preferential rates for charities.