FRT Tier 2 Mandatory Autism and Learning Disability Training
The Health and Care Act 2022 requires all CQC-registered health and social care staff to complete learning disability and autism training. This training must be appropriate to their role.
First Response Training have developed an original training programme, intended to help care staff meet this requirement. The course was developed specifically to train doctors, nurses, social workers, support workers, and other staff working with autistic people and people with learning disabilities.
FRT's Tier 2 Mandatory Autism and Learning Disabilities Training meets all requirements outlined in Section 181 of the Health and Care Act 2022. It is aligned with the statutory guidance under Regulation 18. It is fully mapped to the Core Capabilities Framework and holds an external accreditation kitemark.
CQC has made clear that organisations must ensure staff complete appropriate learning disability and autism training as part of their statutory responsibilities. While providers can choose the training solution that best fits their setting, they should be able to demonstrate that the learning outcomes are met and that the training has made a meaningful impact. The FRT Tier 2 Autism and Learning Disabilities Training meets this requirement.
Half-Day Delivery, Webinar or face-to-face, £795 (Ex Vat)
Co-delivered and co-produced by Experts with Lived Experience
We are incredibly proud to work with so many amazing Experts with Lived Experience of Autism and Learning Disabilities.
From the very beginning, we worked with autistic individuals and individuals with learning disabilities to create the course. This team, working remotely from all across the UK, developed video content to include in the course. They also helped shape the delivery style and contributed to its key messages. Once the first draft was prepared, a co-trainer with a learning disability and an autistic co-trainer also reviewed the course. Their feedback helped the curriculum team refine the eLearning content and the instructor-led session.
“I had the privilege of attending the fantastic pilot online training from First Response Training and Consultancy Services Limited designed to support health and care providers in meeting the new training requirements under the Health and Care Act 2022. This learning disabilities and mandatory training was inspiring, expertly delivered and thought-provoking — with trainers and experts who clearly live and breathe the values of inclusive, personalised care. What particularly stood out to me was the innovation behind delivering such high-calibre training remotely. This flexibility is vital, especially for people with caring responsibilities or other commitments who might struggle to attend full-day, face-to-face sessions. It's an important step in making essential education more equitable and accessible.”
- Dr Catherine Millington-Sanders, GP
“The training was excellent — really clear and well-delivered. It made me look at things differently. Hearing directly from the co-trainers, especially William, really brought the session to life. His aspirations to be a good father reminded me that fundamentally, we all share the same hopes and goals. The resilience shown by both co-trainers was remarkable, but it also highlighted how they shouldn’t have to be so resilient just to access everyday services. The session really made me think about the small, practical adjustments we can all make to improve accessibility for everyone. Thank you to all the trainers for such an insightful, impactful session.”
- Graeme Nixon - Training Quality and Performance Lead - Next Steps Mental Healthcare Ltd
Jon Purton
Lead Trainer
“Delivering this Tier 2 option via webinar is a fantastic way to reach more staff who need training. The session is highly interactive, with group work and plenty of opportunities for learners to engage directly with our Experts with Lived Experience.
Learners build their underpinning knowledge through the Part 1 e-learning module, which enables us to use the webinar to explore the content in more depth—most importantly, to hear from our experts about their lived experience.
The session is designed to encourage staff to reflect on their practice and consider how they can make simple, reasonable adjustments to improve the quality of care in their settings.”
Robert Griffiths
Expert with Lived Experience of Autism
"Delivering the new autism and learning disability course has been a real privilege. Co-developing it as part of such a supportive and passionate team has made the experience even more meaningful. Compared to other training, this course feels more inclusive and creates less of a divide between “us and them” – it brings people together through honest, respectful conversation. I’ve found that delivering it via webinar actually makes the sessions more accessible and reflective. People seem more comfortable to engage, ask questions, and take time to really think, which leads to deeper learning."
Becky Cropper
Lead Developer of the Tier 2 Course
“Working on this training programme has been an absolute joy. It’s been a privilege to collaborate so closely with our incredible team of Experts with Lived Experience, whose insight, honesty, and creativity have shaped every part of this course. From co-producing the content to filming the videos and developing the scripts, every step of the process has been rooted in authentic voices and real stories.
One thing that’s really stood out to me is the feedback from our experts about webinar delivery. As neurodivergent individuals, many of them have shared that this format makes it so much easier for them to participate fully. They feel more comfortable, more confident, and more able to speak openly when presenting in a space that works for them. That’s something I’m deeply proud of — not only are we reaching learners in an accessible way, but we’re also creating an environment that empowers our experts to be heard.”
Leon Williams
Lead Director
“At First Response Training, we’re proud to offer a Tier 2 Autism and Learning Disability training programme that not only meets the legal requirements outlined in the Health and Care Act 2022, but is also fully mapped to the Core Capabilities Framework and carries an external accreditation kitemark. This ensures that organisations can trust the quality, compliance, and integrity of our delivery.
We recognise the pressures on the workforce — especially in primary care, social care, and third sector settings — where releasing staff for full-day, face-to-face training can be a real challenge. That’s why our blended model, combining eLearning with a highly interactive webinar session, is proving such a credible and effective alternative. It maintains the depth and impact of traditional delivery, while offering greater flexibility and accessibility.
The feedback has been outstanding, particularly from teams who value a high-quality solution that fits around the demands of real-world service delivery. This programme not only meets statutory obligations — it also empowers staff to deliver more person-centred, inclusive care.”
Tier 2 Part 1 - eLearning Module
This covers theoretical and legislative knowledge. The eLearning includes all content deemed suitable for this delivery method; i.e. material where an instructor would not significantly enhance understanding or engagement. The eLearning is completed in the learner's own time, taking up to two hours.
Covers:
- Definitions
- Neurodiversity
- Masking
- Key legislation
- Intersectionality
- Mental health
- Communication
- Double empathy
- Spiky profile
- Diagnostic overshadowing
- Co-occurring conditions
- Intelligence theories
- Sensory processing
- Unconscious bias
- Impact of language
- Positive Behaviour Outcomes
- Campaigns and strategies
Tier 2 Part 2 - Instructor-Led Training
This takes half a day and is available in person or via online webinar. The instructor-led session focuses on learning directly from a co-trainer with a learning disability and an autistic co-trainer. The session is facilitated by a trainer who runs the session. They keep track of timings, follow the lesson plan, and act as a supportive presence for the co-trainers. This model ensures that learners hear real, diverse perspectives and have the opportunity to ask questions.
Through the careful and intentional use of eLearning, we can make the most of the shorter instructor-led time and ensure learners receive valuable insights into the lives of our co-trainers. As a result, organisations save on staff time and training costs without compromising the depth or quality of the learning.
Learning Objectives:
- To build on knowledge learned from the elearning session
- To understand how learning disability and autism impact all aspects of life
- To think about our own perspectives and reflect on our own experiences
- To learn from experts with lived experience and others
- To summarise what has been learned from and what will change as a result
Course Development
Find out how we created this course alongside Experts with Lived Experience:
Tailored to All Health and Social Care Sectors
Our training can be tailored to suit your organisation's specific needs. For example, the course can approach topics that come up more often in healthcare settings, such as hospitals and GP surgeries, or instead focus on topics relevant in adult social care. We can adapt our case studies, group discussions, etc. so that learners can gain the most relevant information and make real changes in their practice.
Accredited Training
First Response Training is an accredited training provider by Advantage Accreditation. Advantage is an independent accreditation body specialising in health and social care.