Committed to saving lives by supporting the health and social care workers to develop the skills and insight needed to deliver safe, compassionate and informed care to autistic people and people with a learning disability.
People with a learning disability and autism often experience a lower quality of life, including reduced mental and physical wellbeing. This is influenced by a complex set of factors, including limited awareness, training and understanding among healthcare professionals about people’s genuine needs.
The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training was introduced to change this – bringing a single, national standard for learning disability and autism training across health and social care services.
The government has identified three important shifts for the future of the health service, such as focusing more on prevention and strengthening community care. Part of achieving this is making sure staff can provide compassionate, informed care for autistic people and people with a learning disability. For this purpose, Oliver McGowan has become mandatory training for health and social care staff.
Who Was Oliver McGowan?
Oliver McGowan was a young man with a mild learning disability and autism. He was bright, energetic and deeply loved by his family. In 2016, Oliver lost his life after being given medication in hospital that he and his family had clearly asked to avoid, despite repeated warnings about his sensitivity to it.
His passing exposed painful gaps in understanding, communication and reasonable adjustments across health and social care.
But it also sparked a movement.
Oliver’s parents, led by his mother Paula McGowan OBE, refused to let his story be forgotten. They campaigned tirelessly for change – calling for learning that truly reflects the lived experiences of autistic people and people with a learning disability.
Their efforts led to a national commitment:
The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism.
Co-produced with autistic people, people with a learning disability, families, clinicians and educators, the training was created to ensure that what happened to Oliver never happens again. It sets a consistent standard across health and social care, giving staff the knowledge, confidence and understanding to provide safe, compassionate and informed care.
The training exists because Oliver’s story changed the country – and because no family should ever have to fight to be heard in moments that matter most.
What Is the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training?
Oliver McGowan is mandatory training on learning how to provide safe and person-centred support to autistic people and people with a learning disability.
The Health and Care Act 2022 requires all CQC-registered providers to ensure their staff receive learning disability and autism training that aligns with their role. The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training is the Government’s recommended programme for health and social care staff.
This training was co-produced, tested with more than 8,300 health and care workers, and independently evaluated by the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi).
It is offered in two tiers, each with two parts. Both tiers begin with an eLearning module. Tier 1 then continues with an online interactive session, while Tier 2 includes a face-to-face session. Crucially, people with lived experience of being autistic or having a learning disability are involved in delivering every element of the training.
Without more inclusive and responsive care, many autistic people and people with learning disabilities continue to face inadequate support and an increased risk of deteriorating physical and mental health.
The Two Tiers of Oliver McGowan Training
Oliver’s Training is structured into two tiers, making sure every staff member receives the right level of proficiency for their role. It reflects what research shows is needed: staff who can recognise people’s needs, communicate well, and provide informed, safe support for autistic people and people with a learning disability.
Tier 1
Tier 1 is designed for staff who need a broad awareness of autism and learning disability, including how to recognise what support a person may need in everyday interactions.
Tier 2
Tier 2 is for health and social care staff who have direct responsibility for providing care or support. It applies to anyone who delivers-or might be called upon to deliver-services to autistic people or people with a learning disability, even if this happens infrequently.
In some planned social care settings, Tier 1 may be sufficient when providers know that the people currently using the service do not have a learning disability or are not autistic. However, Tier 2 is required when a person with a learning disability or an autistic person could start using the service at any time, regardless of how often this might occur or the type of service being offered.
Key Learning Areas Covered in the Training
Oliver’s Training gives staff a clear, practical understanding of what matters most when supporting autistic people and people with a learning disability. It strengthens awareness, challenges assumptions, and builds confidence in recognising what someone needs to feel safe, understood, and respected.
The key learning areas include:
• Understanding how autism and learning disability can influence communication, sensory experiences, and daily routines.
• Recognising signs of distress, pain, or anxiety and responding in ways that reduce escalation.
• Making reasonable adjustments that support comfort, trust, and independence.
• Using clearer communication strategies to help people express needs, emotions, preferences, and when something doesn’t feel right.
• Challenging assumptions and diagnostic overshadowing to ensure health concerns aren’t overlooked.
• Learning directly from people with lived experience to understand real-world impacts and what respectful support looks like.
Together, these learning areas build the confidence and awareness staff need to provide safer, more informed support for learning disability and autistic care.
What Every Care Provider Should Do
To make sure Oliver’s Training is embedded properly, care providers need a clear process that identifies who needs which tier, supports staff through completion, and ensures the learning makes a real difference in everyday practice.
Step 1
Clarify which staff members require Tier 1 and which require Tier 2 based on their roles and responsibilities.
Step 2
Record this requirement within staff files and include it in team or organisational training plans.
Step 3
Make sure each staff member completes both parts of the training for the tier they need.
Step 4
Keep staff records up to date, including any refresher requirements where relevant.
Step 5
Support teams to apply what they’ve learned, ensuring it influences culture, decision-making, and daily practice.
Why the Training Matters?
This mandatory training was created because too many autistic people and people with a learning disability have experienced unsafe, inappropriate, or poorly informed care. High-quality autism training helps staff understand how people communicate, what causes distress, and what adjustments make care safer and more respectful. By strengthening awareness, confidence, and real-life understanding, the training reduces avoidable harm and supports a culture where people are listened to, valued, and treated with dignity.
Who Needs to Complete the Training?
This recommended training applies to anyone working in health or social care who may interact with autistic people or people with a learning disability, even if that contact is brief or unplanned. It ensures carers have the right skills and understanding to respond appropriately, communicate clearly, and adapt their approach.
Verified examples of staff required to complete the training include:
• Support workers and carers working in community services, supported living, residential care, step-up/step-down settings, crisis services, or transition support.
• Registered nurses (including mental health nurses, learning disability nurses, general nurses, community psychiatric nurses).
• Allied health professionals, such as occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, and dietitians.
• Social workers involved in assessment, safeguarding, care planning, and reviews.
• Doctors and medical staff, including GPs, psychiatrists, paediatricians, and hospital clinicians.
• Paramedics and ambulance staff, who may support people during emergencies or crisis responses.
• Staff in emergency departments and urgent care, including triage and frontline clinical teams.
• Healthcare assistants and clinical support staff in hospitals, clinics, and primary care.
• Administrative, reception, and non-clinical staff who interact with people as part of their role, such as ward clerks, receptionists, care coordinators, and patient-facing administrators.
• Managers responsible for services (care home managers, registered managers, service leads) who oversee or influence care delivery.
• Staff in day services, respite provision, short breaks, housing teams, or community outreach, where autistic people or people with learning disabilities may access support at any time.
Catalyst Care Group Provides Oliver McGowan Training to its Team Members
Our approach to learning disability and autism training has always been shaped by the people we support and the realities of their daily lives. This mandatory training becomes part of that wider commitment, sitting within a framework that already values bespoke, co-produced learning and practical understanding.
To achieve the best outcomes for people, our wider practice includes:
• Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)
• PROACT-SCIPr-UK® proactive strategies
• Community Psychiatric Nurses and mental health nurses
• Occupational therapy support
• Multimedia support to aid communication and transitions
• A fully multidisciplinary team working together around each person
We design person-centred training that reflects each person’s story and, when needed, create tailored sessions for their full circle of support so everyone knows how to offer steady, consistent care. One of our brands is Autism Accredited, reflecting the standards we uphold across Catalyst Care Group and the depth of expertise that guides our work. To find out more, you can contact us or make a referral.
