The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has reflected on the progress of mandatory learning disability and autism training in care, one year after the Oliver McGowan Code of Practice was published.
The Oliver McGowan Code of Practice sets out the expectations placed on registered health and care providers to ensure they meet the mandatory training requirement. It also advises autistic people and people with a learning disability, and their families, what they can expect from care services.
The health and social care watchdog says it has been working hard over the last year to:
- Ensure its people have the resources, skills and understanding to regulate the training requirement effectively
- Ensure those working in its registration teams are addressing the training requirement when assessing an application to register with the CQC. This, in turn, ensures a consistent approach to the regulatory relationship
Uptake of learning disability and autism training ‘varies across the country’
Although the CQC highlights the fact that it “cannot endorse specific programmes of training,” it says that the number of health and care providers taking up the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training provides them with a good indication of the level of engagement with the regulatory training requirement on learning disability and autism overall.
They reveal that uptake varies across the country, and that many larger organisations, NHS trusts and primary care providers still have a long way to go to ensure staff are trained.
They also celebrate the “innovative and positive examples” of health and care providers working hard to ensure their staff have sufficient and relevant training to be able to meet the specific needs of autistic people and people with a learning disability.
This includes enhancing the standard training programme to reflect the specific requirements of the service. Examples include:
- Providers adding individualised chapters to their staff training, with more detail and key information about specific people that staff will support
- Some health services have developed bespoke training to meet the regulatory requirement and keep people safe while ensuring it relates directly to the specific care environment they work in
However, the CQC says that there are providers who are yet to seek or provide appropriate learning disability and autism training for their staff, despite the fact that it is a regulatory requirement.
Lack of learning disability and autism training “endangers outcomes and wellbeing”
They say this failure to provide appropriate mandatory training “endangers the outcomes and wellbeing of autistic people and people with a learning disability who use those services.”
Citing data from the most recent Learning from Lives and Deaths Report (LeDeR), they say that around 2 in 5 reviewed deaths of adults with a learning disability were a result of avoidable causes. This is nearly twice the proportion seen in the general adult population.
Mandatory training in learning disability and autism can help to combat this, as research shows that experiences and outcomes for people with a learning disability and autistic people are better when the people providing their care and treatment are properly trained and skilled.
The care watchdog reiterates that all services delivering a CQC-regulated activity must provide sufficient training in learning disability and autism for their staff.
Further guidance is available on the CQC website.
Guidance on the mandatory training requirement
The requirement has been written into law since July 2022, when it was introduced by the Health and Care Act 2022.
The requirement to provide mandatory staff training on learning disability and autism applies to all services and all settings and all health and care staff, as well as ancillary staff who may have contact with people with a learning disability and autistic people. This could include administrative staff.
The CQC guidance includes:
- Providers must ensure that all staff receive training in how to interact appropriately with people with a learning disability and autistic people, at a level appropriate to their role
- Staff must receive appropriate supervision in their role to ensure they demonstrate and maintain competence in understanding the needs of people with a learning disability and autistic people, including knowing how to support them in the best way
- Providers should be aware of these requirements when reviewing their induction, training and supervision plans for all staff
The requirement is incorporated into CQC inspections.
The watchdog says that, when it is assessing the quality of care provided by a service, it will ensure that staff are completely to deliver care and treatment to all people using services, including people with a learning disability and autistic people.
Providers must decide for themselves which training to choose to ensure that all staff are competent to interact with people with a learning disability and autistic people.
When inspecting services, the CQC examines whether the service and its staff are providing safe, person-centred care which safeguards the people using services from abuse and improper treatment, and which meets their individual needs.
When looking specifically at the care and treatment of a person with a learning disability or an autistic person, the watchdog will consider areas such as:
- How the service ensures that people consent to care and treatment, or a person authorised to speak on their behalf has provided consent
- Whether the care and treatment provided to individuals is appropriate, meets their needs and reflects their preferences
- Whether care and treatment is being delivered safely
- Whether staff are treating people with dignity and respect
- Whether the service protects people from abuse and improper treatment
- What training is provided to staff and what training records are kept
Mandatory training on learning disability and autism
First Response Training (FRT) is a leading, national training provider.
They deliver over 7,000 courses each year in the fields of health and safety, first aid, fire safety, food safety, mental health, health and social care and other special focus topics.
Their diverse portfolio includes training awards designed for care workers, such as Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training, Positive Behaviour Support, Safeguarding Adults, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Person Centred Care and Support and many others.
Their course portfolio spans Care Certificate standards, mandatory training awards, clinical skills, special focus courses and training for supervisors and managers.
Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training
The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training Framework on Learning Disability and Autism is the government’s preferred and recommended route for health and care providers to meet the training requirement set out in the Health and Care Act 2022.
FRT was one of the first training providers in the country to be approved to offer essential training in line with the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism.
They are quality assured to deliver Oliver’s Training through the Quality Assured Care Learning Service (QACLS) from the Department of Health and Social Care and Skills for Care.
FRT have worked closely with a number of NHS Trusts and ICBs to enhance the mandatory training programme by adding specific, local information that is directly relevant to staff and their roles.
The national training provider aims to empower and educate staff to transform their practice by embracing the lived experiences of autistic individuals and those with learning disabilities. Through the collaborative strength of their trios—facilitating trainers and experts with lived experience — FRT aims to inspire lasting change in how individuals are understood, supported, and valued.
FRT are hosting a series of open, public Tier 2 courses in London, Manchester and Birmingham in the coming months. You can book a space on any of these courses online now.
FRT have also developed a free-to-download quick guide to the new Oliver McGowan draft code of practice.
This guide explains what the new code of practice means for health and social care providers, how to stay current, and how to meet legal duties.
You can also download FRT’s free Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training brochure.
Providing an alternative training solution
The Health and Care Act 2022 and the CQC do not dictate what training programme providers must offer to their staff, only that it must be suitable and sufficient and meet the standards set out in the Code of Practice.
To offer health and care providers flexibility and choice, FRT have also developed their own Tier 2 Mandatory Autism and Learning Disabilities Training package.
Fully mapped to the core capabilities framework and the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training Code of Practice and externally accredited, this package offers providers an efficient, affordable alternative solution.
The training is designed to meet statutory standards and equip health and social care staff to deliver more empathetic, person-centred support.
A trainer at FRT explains:
“This isn’t just about compliance. It’s a chance to improve outcomes, reduce bias, and truly understand the lived realities of autistic individuals and people with learning disabilities, helping to improve care and support and prevent avoidable deaths.”
You can learn more about how FRT developed this training package here.
For further information on other types of neurodiversity training, visit their webpage or download the brochure.
You can contact FRT via freephone 0800 310 2300, send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com or submit an online enquiry.