Effective from the 1st of July all CQC‑registered providers (including GP practices) must ensure staff complete mandatory learning disability and autism training, proportionate to their role. This requirement reinforces existing Regulation 18 obligations for appropriate staff training. The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training is the UK Government’s preferred and recommended training package for registered providers to meet the legal requirement. The training is named after Oliver McGowan, whose death shone a light on the need for health and social care staff to have better training.
Training ensures staff are equipped to identify needs and make reasonable adjustments, like communication aids, appointment flexibility, or patient environment modifications. Delivery involves co‑production and co‑delivery by autistic people and those with learning disabilities
The tier-based structure aligns with GP practice roles:
- Tier 1 – staff who require a general awareness of people with a learning disability and autistic people and the support they need.
- Tier 2 – staff with a responsibility for providing care and support for a person or people with a learning disability or autistic people.
Further detail is provided in the place based offers sections.
The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training packages specify:
- Tier 1: 90-minute e‑learning + 1-hour live webinar – suitable for all staff requiring general awareness.
- Tier 2: 90-minute e‑learning + a full day of training – intended for staff delivering direct clinical care or managing complex cases.
The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training e-Learning is available HERE.
Each West Yorkshire place has a different approach to training, please see the information below.