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Oliver McGowan Trial – Training
in Learning Disability and Autism
This training trial is for health and social care staff
in England. It will make a huge difference to people with a learning disability and autistic people with or without a learning disability, in accessing the help they need from the NHS and social care in a way that meets their needs effectively.
What is Oliver McGowan Training in LD and Autism?
What is Oliver McGowan Training in LD and Autism?This training is named after Oliver McGowan, whose death shone a light on the need for health and social care staff to have better training in learning disabilities and autism.
It is part of a national commitment to develop a standardised training package and Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust (GHC) was one of four national partners appointed to co-design and co-deliver the training for groups of health and social care staff as part of a national pilot.
The project team comprises:
- Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
- Inclusion Gloucestershire
- Family Partnership Solutions
- Gloucestershire County Council
All of the training is fully co-designed and co-delivered with people with learning disabilities, autistic people with or without a learning disability, family carers and people working within learning disability and autism services.
At this stage we are hoping to train a cross section of staff from all sectors. We welcome feedback on the content and delivery of the training, as this will help us shape the development of the final training package, which will become mandatory across England in 2022.
The trial will be launched in Gloucestershire on Thursday 1 April 2021. While attendance is NOT mandatory at this time, we would very much encourage health and social care colleagues to take part. Your feedback will influence the development of the mandatory package, which will be informed by results from this and the other three national trials.
You can find out more about the other national partners here.
Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training in Learning Disability and Autism is the result of tireless campaigning, especially from Oliver’s parents Tom and Paula McGowan, who have been at the forefront of calls for better understanding and training for health and care professionals since Oliver’s tragic death in 2016.
About the training
Tier 1
Tier 1 entails two hours of online activity including viewing an information film and attending a 30-minute live webinar. It is relevant to all staff working in any sector who may occasionally interact with people with a learning disability and/or autism, but who do not have responsibility for providing direct care or making decisions about care or support.
Tier 2
Tier 2 is a live hybrid event for which you can book a physical or online place. It is co-delivered by an Expert by Experience, a family carer and a professional person working within a learning disability service.
This whole-day event is relevant to health and social care staff and others with responsibility for providing care and support for people with autism or a learning disability, but who would seek support from others for complex management or complex decision making.
Provisional training dates for Tier 2
Gloucester locality
- 9 June 2021
- 23 June 2021
- 20 October 2021
- 18 November 2021
Stroud locality
- 7 July 2021
- 19 August 2021
Cheltenham locality
- 22 September 2021
- 28 October 2021
- 25 November 2021
Forest locality
- 15 September 2021
- 13 October 2021
If you have any questions, please contact OliverMGMT@ghc.nhs.uk
Further information
- Health Education England answers FAQs about training and delivery of Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on its website here
- Skills for Care
is coordinating all enquiries about the trials and evaluation, on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care and Health Education England. Visit their website here
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to do this training?
No, this is a trial, with the aim of finding out how to best deliver to a wide range of staff. The data from this trial will by analysed by the National Development Team for Inclusion. This data will then be used to build the mandatory training which will come out next year. At that point it will be mandatory for everyone, so it is really important that you share your views by completing the survey before and after the training.
Which level of training do I need?
You do not have to do both tiers of training, but you are welcome to if your manager is happy for you to have the time.
The descriptions below will help you and your manager to decide which training you should choose.
Tier 1 is suitable for…
Those that require general awareness of autistic people and/or people with a learning disability and the support they need. This tier is relevant to those working in any sector who may occasionally interact with those affected by a learning disability, but who do not have responsibility for making decisions about their care or support. For example, this may include those working in education, policing, custodial care, housing, or indeed any organisation.
This is also relevant to the entire health and social care workforce, including ancillary and clerical staff. Tier 1 is also relevant to autistic people, or people with a learning disability, the family, friends and carers of people with a learning disability and/or autistic people, to ensure they are making the most of the support on offer and can plan effectively for current and future needs.
Tier 2 is suitable for…
Health and social care staff and others with responsibility for providing care and support for an autistic person or person with a learning disability, but who would seek support from others for complex management or complex decision-making. This is relevant to health and social care workers providing care and support, including care assistants working in residential or home care, personal assistants and others in roles which facilitate access to care. Tier 2 may also be relevant to autistic people or those with a learning disability, and family and friends who are providing care and support.
Tier 2 also underpins the more specialist skills and knowledge required at Tier 3, but Tier 3 training is beyond the scope of the trial.
Who can access the training?
- The health and social care workforce
- Other people who support autistic people or people with a learning disability in their work
- People who work in Gloucestershire and Bristol North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG)
What is the time commitment?
- Tier 1 comprises a learning module of 1.5 hours, plus a 30-minute, Zoom-based webinar, led by an Expert by Experience and a co-facilitator.
- Tier 2 comprises one whole day of training using a hybrid model, which means the live event is attended by both online and in-person attendees at the same time. This whole-day session runs between 9.30am and 4.30pm, you can book a place to attend either via Zoom, or in the room. Sessions will run across various venues in the county to reach more rural areas, as well as some larger central venues.
When is the training running?
- Tier 1 is running from the end of April until the end of November 2021.
- Tier 2 is running from June until November 2021, but there is a limit on places, so we advise booking as soon as possible.
Newsletters
Booking on to the training
Health and social care staff
You can book a place via your Proud to Learn account with Gloucestershire County Council
If you do not have a Proud to Learn account please email proudtolearn@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Gloucestershire Health and Care employees
If you work for Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust you can access via your learning profile on Care to Learn
