Oliver McGowan Training - Learning Disability and Autism - Hertfordshire and West Essex

• A 90‑minute e‑learning module that builds awareness and confidence when supporting autistic people and people with a learning disability.

• You may need to refresh the e‑learning if more than six months have passed before attending Part 2.

• Tier 1
  For people who need a general awareness of the support autistic people and people with a learning disability need.
  Format: the same 90‑minute e‑learning followed by a 1‑hour online interactive session.

• Tier 2
  For staff who provide care or support or work with a high degree of autonomy.
  Format: the same 90‑minute e‑learning followed by a one‑day, in‑person session.

Tier 2 (face to face) Seminars are held over the course of a 7-hour day with breaks in between. We tend to ask delegates to turn up between 09:00 and 09:15. We start sharp at 09:30 and usually finish between 16:00 and 16:30.

There will be two short breaks of 10/15 minutes, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, and one longer lunch break of 30 to 60 minutes – depending on the group which they prefer.

We hold the seminar over 2 sessions. One in the morning and one in the afternoon.

The morning session is held by one of our Learning Disability Co Trainers with lived experience and the afternoon, by one of our Autism Co Trainers with lived experience. There will also be one of the team to facilitate throughout the day.  

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.

The Oliver McGowan mandatory training on learning disability and autism is the government’s preferred and recommended training for health and social care staff. It has been co-produced and will be co-delivered by experts with lived experience. Within Hertfordshire and west Essex we are supporting organisations to deliver this training.

There is a requirement under the Health and Care Act 2022 that all CQC-regulated organisations ensure their staff have training on Learning Disability and Autism appropriate to their role. The Secretary of State for Health will publish a Code of Practice detailing the requirements later this year.

The 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 provide a focus on the skills, knowledge and behaviours expected for staff offering services to autistic people and people with a learning disability. 

Staff who require a general awareness of the support for autistic people or people with a learning disability 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 who provide 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 Lives and Deaths of people with a Learning Disability and autistic people (LeDeR)

- annual health checks.

Depending on their role, staff may need to develop more capabilities, in addition to those covered in the tier 2 package. Employers must determine these and put in place the appropriate provisions.  

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

We are working with Hertfordshire Care Providers Association (HCPA) to deliver a ‘train the trainer’ model. Lead trainers will be invited to ‘train the trainer’ sessions from the end of May onwards.  

 HCPA will also be delivering a number of training sessions, more information will be available on the health and care Academy website in May. This will include normal and ‘train the trainer’ sessions for tier 1 and tier 2. There will also be an option to submit a form with any training or other support requests.