What is Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training? The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism is a government-recommended training programme designed to improve understanding, awareness and support for autistic people and people with learning disabilities. It aims to ensure health and social care professionals have the knowledge and skills needed to provide appropriate,...
What training is mandatory for care home staff? Care homes have a responsibility to ensure their employees have the knowledge, skills and competence needed to provide safe and effective care. Training is a fundamental part of meeting this responsibility. From safeguarding and medication administration to infection prevention and moving and assisting, staff need appropriate...
What is the Care Certificate? The Care Certificate is a set of standards designed to ensure that people working in health and social care have the essential knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to provide safe, compassionate and effective care. It is particularly important for people who are new to the care sector, helping them...
How long does a first aid certificate last? If you’ve completed a workplace first aid course, or you’re responsible for managing employee training, one important question is how long the qualification remains valid. In the UK, First Aid at Work (FAW) and Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) certificates are generally valid for three...
How many first aiders does a workplace need? If you’re an employer, you have a responsibility to ensure that appropriate first aid arrangements are in place to protect your employees. One of the most common questions businesses ask is: how many first aiders do we actually need? The answer isn’t necessarily as straightforward as...
What is the difference between First Aid at Work and Emergency First Aid at Work? Choosing the right first aid training is an important responsibility for any employer. Whether you manage a small office, a busy hospitality venue or a higher-risk industrial workplace, having appropriately trained first aiders can make a significant difference when...
The government has delayed SEND reforms until 2027 but has reiterated its commitment to improving the “broken system” and getting reforms right for children and families. Earlier this month, the Education Secretary, Lucy Powell, confirmed that legislation on changes to the SEND system would not be published until early next year. Her response to...
There is a growing push within the education sector – and beyond – to shift to a needs-led system of support for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The recently published Independent Review into Mental Health Conditions, ADHD and Autism, led by Professor Peter Fonagy, said the debate around over-diagnosis of neurodevelopmental...
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a new campaign to help employers understand how to prevent harm from noise and vibration. Britain’s health and safety watchdog says that effective workplace action can help prevent workers from experiencing permanent hearing loss, tinnitus, and hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). Don’t leave it too late to...
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has confirmed its plans to strengthen asbestos safety standards following a public consultation. Britain’s health and safety watchdog has published its response to a consultation on proposals to strengthen the existing regulatory framework for managing asbestos. The consultation ran for two months from November 2025 until January 2026...
A petition calling for mandatory ADHD training in schools has reached over 10,000 signatures in just two weeks, meaning the government must issue a formal written response. The parliamentary petition was launched by Ryan Swain, a 36-year-old from Malton who grew up with undiagnosed ADHD and Tourette’s syndrome. He was permanently excluded from mainstream...
Earlier this year, the government set out significant reforms to the SEND system but, following a change in leadership, there are questions over how and when they will be implemented. In February of this year, then-education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, set out extensive reforms to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system in England....
The latest CQC State of Care report presents a “mixed picture” across health and adult social care, with the watchdog describing experiences of care as “fractured” and “heavily dependent” on where people live and who they are. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published its State of Care 2025-26 report – its annual assessment...
New UK workplace sexual harassment law officially comes into force this Friday, 30th October 2026, but are you ready? From 30th October, the Employment Rights Act 2025 will strengthen current workplace sexual harassment law by stating that employers need to take “all reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment. The new legislation covers both workplace...
Skills for Care’s latest report into the state of care has revealed strong links between investment and training in the adult social care sector and the delivery of higher quality care. The annual ‘State of the adult social care sector and workforce in England’ report was published last week by Skills for Care at...