The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training

Who it applies to

Every CQC-registered provider. The Health and Care Act 2022 requires all registered providers to ensure staff receive learning disability and autism training appropriate to their role — not only services that specialise in learning disability or autism.

How the training is structured

There are two tiers. Both have two parts:

• Part 1 — the e-learning. Everyone completes this, whatever their tier. It is free on the elearning for healthcare (elfh) portal
• Tier 1, part 2 — a 1-hour live online interactive session, for staff who need general awareness
• Tier 2, part 2 — a 1-day face-to-face session, for staff who provide care and support to people with a learning disability or autistic people
• In a supported living or learning disability service, most care staff will need Tier 2

How to get the free e-learning (part 1)

• Each member of staff needs their own named email address — shared or company-wide addresses cannot be used
• Staff can register themselves on the elfh portal, or the employer can use elfh's free bulk upload to create accounts for everyone
• Open the course directly on the NHS elfh portal: portal.e-lfh.org.uk/Component/Details/786762 — or search the catalogue for 'The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism'
• When finished, staff download their certificate and upload it to their training record
• Help with registration: support.e-lfh.org.uk

How to arrange part 2

• Contact your local Integrated Care Board (ICB) or local authority learning and development team — many run sessions for local providers
• Alternatively run it in-house with trained trainers and co-trainers with lived experience, share delivery with partner organisations, or use an approved external provider
• Funding to reimburse Oliver's Training is available through the Learning and Development Support Scheme for eligible providers with an ASC-WDS account, while the funding pot lasts

What CQC will look for

• A training matrix showing every member of staff, the tier they need, and both parts completed
• A plan with dates for anyone still waiting for part 2
• Certificates on file for the e-learning
• Evidence that training changes practice — communication profiles, PBS plans and observed practice

Internal audit questions

1. 1.Has every member of staff been assigned the right tier for their role?
2. 2.Has every member of staff completed part 1, the e-learning, with a certificate on file?
3. 3.Is part 2 complete, or booked with a date, for each member of staff?
4. 4.Is the training included in induction for new starters?
5. 5.Is there evidence the training is reflected in day-to-day practice?

How MyCareCompliance can help

In MyCareCompliance, each staff record in Workforce has an Oliver McGowan training entry. Upload the certificate and set a renewal date, and the dashboard and training reports will flag anyone who has not completed it or is due a refresher.

Official sources

• NHS England elfh: The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training e-learning — register and play
• NHS England: The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism
• NHS England: accessing Oliver's Training (FAQs)
• Skills for Care: Oliver's Training and funding
• elearning for healthcare (elfh) — free e-learning portal