Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Autism and Learning Disability

The training is named after Oliver McGowan whose death shone a light on the need for health and social care staff to have better skills, knowledge and understanding of the needs for autistic people and people with a learning disability.

18-year-old Oliver had mild hemiplegia, focal partial epilepsy, a mild learning disability and was autistic. He died in November 2016 after he was given antipsychotic medication, even though he and his family warned it could be harmful. His death was determined to be “avoidable” by an independent review.

The Health and Care Act 2022 introduced a requirement that all regulated CQC registered service providers must ensure their staff receive training on learning disability and autism that is appropriate to their role. The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism is the Government’s preferred and recommended training for health and social care staff to undertake.

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism has been co-produced, trialled, independently evaluated and will be co-delivered by trainers with lived experience of learning disability and autism.

About the training

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training is delivered in two Tiers, via E-learning followed by either Tier 1 or Tier 2:

Tier 1 of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism is for people who require general awareness of the support autistic people or people with a learning disability may need.

Tier 2 of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism is for people who may need to provide care and support for autistic people or people with a learning disability.

For BSW Healthcare staff, please go to the booking page

E-learning Module

Initially, individuals must complete the e-learning training module which will help staff understand learning disability and autism, as well as methods of communication and reasonable adjustments people may need and consists of:

Section 1 – Introduction

Section 2 – Understanding learning disability

Section 3 – Understanding autism

Section 4 – Communication

Section 5 – Reasonable adjustments

Section 6 – Summary

The content of the E-learning session is mapped to the Tier 1 learning outcomes of the Core Capabilities Framework for Supporting Autistic People and the Core Capabilities Framework for Supporting People with a Learning Disability. It should take around one hour and 30 minutes to complete.

How to access the E-learning training module

How to complete the training

Step 1: Complete the E-learning training module

Step 2: Either complete Tier 1 or Tier 2 Training:

Tier 1 – Those needing tier 1 will take part in a 1 hour online interactive session co-delivered by people with lived experience of learning disability and autism and the lead trainer

Tier 2 – Those needing tier 2 training will take part in a face-to-face training day that is co-delivered by people with lived experience of learning disability and autism and the lead trainer

Your employer should inform you when you are able to book the relevant training, we recommend you apply for Step 2 prior to completing the initial E-learning module. It is important to follow your employer’s instructions to make sure your training is properly recorded

You can also visit HEE’s Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism webpage for further information and updates.

https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/learning-disability/current-projects/oliver-mcgowan-mandatory-training-learning-disability-autism

FAQs

What does The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism cover? +

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism content has been developed with reference to tier 1 and tier 2 capabilities contained within the Core Capabilities Framework for Supporting People with a Learning Disability and the Core Capabilities Framework for Supporting Autistic People

Both frameworks are nationally recognised and have been developed to provide a focus on the skills, knowledge and behaviours expected for staff offering services to autistic people and people with a learning disability

All staff that require a general awareness of the support for autistic people or people with a learning disability are advised that they need to cover all of the tier 1 capabilities in the frameworks. Tier 1 of The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism covers all the Core Capabilities Frameworks’ tier 1 capabilities

Staff with responsibility for providing care, support or healthcare, including social care and other professionals with a high degree of autonomy, are expected to complete the Tier 2 of The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training which includes content on:

- Avoiding diagnostic overshadowing

- Frequently co-occurring conditions (co-morbidities)

- The laws: Mental Capacity Act, Human Rights Act, Autism Act

- Reasonable Adjustments including Hospital Passports,

- Culture (professional bias and subconscious beliefs); professional behaviour and impact on outcomes and other people's behaviour

- How to communicate in accessible ways

- How to understand what the person (and their family) is saying

- Ask Listen Do

- Learning from LeDer

- Annual health checks

Depending on their role, staff may require further capabilities in addition to those covered in the Tier 2 package. It is the responsibility of employers to determine any further capabilities their staff need and to put in place the appropriate provisions

Employers should refer to the frameworks to ensure their staff have the capabilities they need for their roles.

How do I access the E-learning training module? +

Via the e-lfh

To access any e-lfh programme, you will need an e-lfh account. If you do not have one, then you can register via this link:

https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/the-oliver-mcgowan-mandatory-training-on-learning-disability-and-autism/

NHS healthcare staff in England – ESR

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism programme is also available to NHS healthcare staff via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). Accessing this e-learning via ESR means that your completions will transfer with you throughout your NHS career.

How soon after completing the E-learning module, should I participate in Stage 2 of The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training (the 1 hour online interactive session for Tier 1 or face to face training day for Tier 2)? +

Part 2 of The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training (the interactive online and the face-to-face sessions) makes reference to the eLearning package. Participants need to remember information and discussions from eLearning during part 2 of the training so we encourage people to be complete both parts within days of each other. If more than 6 months have passed between completing the elearning and the relevant online interactive or face to face session, participants will need to revisit the elearning package to refresh their learning prior to attending the part 2. The elearning package can be replayed at any time so it can be watched now and revisited ahead of attending part 2.

Where will the Tier 2 face-to-face day training sessions take place? +

These sessions will be held at the following locations:

The Royal United Hospital, Combe Park, Avon, BA1 3NG

Great Western Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Marlborough Road, Swindon, SN3 6BB

Salisbury District Hospital, Odstock Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP2 8BJ

Chippenham Community Hospital, Rowden Hill, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 2AJ

Green Lane Hospital, Marshall Road, Devizes, SN10 5DS

Jenner House, Unit E3, Langley Park, Avon Way, Chippenham SN15 1GG

Should I complete Tier 1 or Tier 2 training? +

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism is delivered in one of two Tiers. It is the employers’ responsibility to ensure their staff have the appropriate training for their roles and they will need to advise staff on whether they should complete Tier 1 or Tier 2. HEE recently developed The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training Tier guidance for employers with examples. Employers may also find the NDTi report on involving experts by experience helpful.

What training do I need to do for LD and Autism?

Your organisation will determine what training you will do to meet the statutory requirement. As more sessions become available, we expect any existing training around LD and Autism to be phased out and replaced with the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training. Your organisation may offer other training in LD and Autism that may or may not be mandatory, this may cover learning at a higher level or cover different content and can be used in addition to the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training but cannot replace it.