First Response Training (FRT) have raised over £1,400 and clocked up over 1 million steps to raise awareness of autism and fund vital research and support. The leading national training provider, which delivers a range of training on autism, neurodiversity and learning disabilities, supported the annual Walk for Autism fundraising challenge which encourages participants...
First Response Training returns to deliver ‘engaging and accessible’ training for local community group
National training provider First Response Training has delivered another “enjoyable, engaging and accessible” first aid training session for The Monday Night Club. The leading provider first delivered a free first aid training session for members of the Worcester-based social club run by and for adults with a learning disability and autistic people in May...
New Health Bill promises ‘safer and faster care’
The government has pledged that its new Health Bill will deliver ‘safer, quicker and more accurate healthcare’. A press release from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England explains that the NHS Modernisation Bill will introduce two major changes to join up fragmented health information and cut bureaucracy. The first...
Skills for Care refreshes Leadership Qualities Framework
Skills for Care have published a refreshed version of their Leadership Qualities Framework (LQF) to support great leadership in the adult social care sector. The updated framework defines the behaviours, skills and mindsets that define great leadership in adult social care. Importantly, it is aligned to the Care Workforce Pathway and so is designed...
Skills for Care launches new practical approaches toolkits for care
Skills for Care have launched new ‘Practical approaches toolkits’ to help support leaders and commissioners in adult social care. The workforce development charity has developed the suite of practical approaches toolkits to provide leaders and commissioners in adult social care with guidance, tools and resources to support them to adopt proven workforce models and...
Take action this Mental Health Awareness Week
Take action to support positive mental health and wellbeing this Mental Health Awareness Week. Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 is being observed in the UK from 11th – 17th May, and the Mental Health Foundation is calling for people to come together to take powerful action to support good mental health. Action is the...
Celebrate autism and promote neuroinclusivity for World Autism Day
Thursday 2nd April is World Autism Day 2026; a day to celebrate the strengths of autistic people and promote neuroinclusivity across health, education, workplace, sports and all sectors of society. Acting as a kick off point for World Autism Acceptance Month, and backed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), World Autism Day unites families...
CQC publishes research on good practice in dementia care
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published a research report on good practice in dementia care. Commissioned as part of the care watchdog’s dementia strategy, the good practice in health and social care services when caring for people living with a type of dementia review was conducted by IFF Research in partnership with Leeds...
Skills for Care publishes updated framework to define great leadership in care
Skills for Care recently published an updated framework to define and support great leadership in adult social care. The workforce development charity has refreshed its Leadership Qualities Framework (LQF) to set out the behaviours, skills, and mindsets that represent great leadership across adult social care. The framework is aligned to the Care Workforce Pathway...
New schools whitepaper aims to ‘transform life chances’
The government published the 2026 Schools Whitepaper last month, promising that it will transform “life chances for disadvantaged children and children with SEND.” The Every Child Achieving and Thriving whitepaper, published 23rd February 2026, sets out generational reforms to the schools and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) systems in England to help “improve...
All school staff to receive mandatory allergy awareness training
Schools in England must now provide allergy awareness training for all staff, following the introduction of new statutory guidance. Earlier this month, the Department for Education announced that allergy awareness training and a stock of spare adrenaline auto-injectors for emergencies will be compulsory for all schools in England. The plans will come into force...
7 in 10 neurodivergent pupils face severe mental health issues
A new report has highlighted how up to 7 in 10 neurodivergent pupils experience severe mental health issues at school. The report’s authors argue that mental health support for neurodivergent pupils should be viewed as a “reasonable adjustment” to help prevent escalating needs. The charity Centre for Mental Health recently released a report, Strengths-based...
Experts consider new autism diagnosis to improve support
Experts are considering the introduction of a new autism diagnosis to help ensure that people with the highest support needs are provided with targeted services, focused research and funding. A panel of international experts, commissioned by the Lancet, has proposed the introduction of a new diagnostic category of “profound autism”. This new diagnosis would...
Neurodiversity Celebration Week: move from awareness to action
It’s Neurodiversity Celebration Week (16th – 20th March 2026), which celebrates different minds and challenges the negative stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding neurological differences. Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a global initiative founded in the UK in 2018 by Siena Castellon MBE, who has campaigned to support young people with special educational needs (SEN) from a...
First Response Training staff step up to Walk for Autism
First Response Training (FRT) have signed up a team of 22 staff members to raise awareness and funds as they Walk for Autism. The leading national training provider, which delivers a range of training on autism, neurodiversity and learning disabilities, is pleased to be supporting the annual fundraising challenge which encourages participants to walk...