Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training Provider : Ensuring the health and social care staff to understand the needs of people with a learning disability and autism
With a strong commitment to excellence and a proven track record in delivering exceptional training experiences, we are dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to reach their full potential.
At Shreeji Training, we understand the critical role that training plays in personal and professional development. Our carefully curated courses encompass a wide range of industries and disciplines, ensuring that we cater to the diverse needs of our clients. This perfect training program offered by us is mandatory for all the health and care personnel which will help them in increasing the efficiency of their skills.
Our partnership with the renowned Oliver McGowan Training Provider network elevates our offerings to an unparalleled level of quality and credibility. As an Oliver McGowan training provider, we adhere to the high-quality benchmarks, delivering training experiences that are in line with the best practices and latest industry trends.
OLIVER’S HISTORY
From an early age Oliver faced challenges in the form of meningitis, mild hemiplegia, focal partial epilepsy, a mild learning disability and high functioning autism. As an infant, he showed determination and talent in sports and trained as a Paralympian during his teenage years. However, his journey took a distressful turn when he experienced seizures and was a subject of involuntary hospitalizations and the administration of antipsychotic medication, which had negative effects on his mood.
In April of the following year, Oliver was admitted to the hospital again with partial seizures. He was again given antipsychotic medication, which caused him to experience a range of distressing side effects. He was then moved to a specialist adult hospital, where staff restrained him, prescribed further antipsychotic medication, and failed to provide him with any privacy.
Oliver was eventually transferred to a Psychiatric Intensive Care unit, where he received support from a specialist learning disability team. They immediately recognized that he did not need to be detained and removed all antipsychotic medication from his treatment plan.
That October, Oliver experienced a cluster of partial seizures and was admitted to a general hospital. Staff sedated him and, once again, gave him antipsychotic medication. He became very unwell and staff suspected a life-threatening reaction to the antipsychotic medication. After a week on life support, he tragically died on November 11th, 2016. He was just 18 years old.
Oliver’s story emphasizes the importance of proper diagnosis, personalized care, and respectful treatment for individuals with complex conditions. It serves as a reminder of the need for improved understanding and support for those living with learning disabilities, mental health challenges, and epilepsy. Let us learn from Oliver’s experience and work towards a future where every individual receives the care they deserve, free from unnecessary harm.
OLIVER MCGOWAN TRAINING DESIGN
After years of advocacy by Oliver McGowan’s family, the Health and Care Act of 2022 introduced a crucial requirement for all regulated service providers registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). This mandate compels these providers to ensure that their staff receive appropriate training in the domains of learning disabilities and autism. The government has identified The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training as the preferred and recommended training program for health and social care staff.
Developed in collaboration between Health Education England (HEE) and Skills for Care, The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training for Learning Disabilities and Autism is a standardized package. Its effectiveness has been extensively tested, involving over 8,300 health and social care professionals, and independently evaluated by the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi).
One of its most noteworthy aspects is that the training was designed, delivered, and evaluated with the invaluable input of individuals with learning disabilities and/or autism, making it a truly inclusive and insightful initiative.
COMPONENTS OF OLIVER MCGOWAN TRAINING
The design consists of two tiers of training, and it is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that their staff receive the appropriate level of mandatory training based on their roles.
Tier 1 of the design caters to health and care workers who only need a general awareness of the support required for individuals with learning disabilities or autism. This level may suffice for frontline staff when the service users do not have learning disabilities or autism. Typically, it applies to non-patient-facing roles, such as administrators, on-site facilities, or finance assistants.
Tier 2, on the other hand, targets health and care staff responsible for providing care and support to individuals with learning disabilities and/or autism. This tier includes those who make decisions about the care and support services for these individuals.
The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training program includes an e-learning package as its first component, launched by HEE in collaboration with the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, and Skills for Care. All learners, whether in Tier 1 or Tier 2, must complete this e-learning, which is accessible for free via the elfh platform. NHS healthcare staff can access it through ESR.
After the e-learning, Tier 1 learners undergo a 60-minute live online webinar session, while Tier 2 learners engage in a 6-hour, classroom-based training course.
Trials and evaluations highlighted the significance of involving individuals with real-life experiences in the training. Consequently, both Tier 1 (webinar) and Tier 2 (classroom) sessions are led by a trio of trainers. An experienced subject matter trainer leads the delivery, with support from an individual with autism and another with a learning disability, known as ‘Experts by Lived Experience.’
The design is now categorized as a training category on the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS), encompassing the e-learning, Tier 1, and Tier 2 training components.
This categorization enables employers to record and track staff completion of the mandatory training, providing evidence of compliance during inspections.
WHY IS OLIVER MCGOWAN MANDATORY TRAINING NECESSARY?
The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training for Learning Disabilities and Autism is a significant step forward in improving the care and support for individuals with learning disabilities and/or autism. Unfortunately, research reveals that these individuals tend to have shorter lifespans and receive inferior care compared to the general population.
Oliver McGowan’s parents, Paula and Thomas, have been leading the campaign for this mandatory structure since Oliver’s tragic and preventable death in 2016. Throughout his life, Oliver faced various health challenges, including mild hemiplegia, focal partial epilepsy, mild learning disability, and high-functioning autism. Despite these challenges, he aspired to become a Paralympian.
In 2005, Oliver experienced seizures and was wrongly given antidepressants, which adversely affected his mood. Later, he was subjected to antipsychotic medication without any psychiatric diagnosis, leading to distressing side effects. Despite the lack of need for detention, Oliver was moved to a specialist adult hospital where he endured restraint and further antipsychotic medication.
After being transferred to a Psychiatric Intensive Care unit, a specialist learning disability team recognized that Oliver didn’t need detention and removed all antipsychotic medication from his treatment plan. Sadly, in October of the same year, Oliver was admitted to a general hospital where staff again administered antipsychotic medication, resulting in a life-threatening reaction that ultimately led to his passing at the age of 18.
The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training providers prevent such tragedies by improving care standards and awareness regarding learning disabilities and autism, providing better support and understanding for individuals like Oliver.
WHAT IS THIS CAMPAIGN ALL ABOUT?
Oliver’s family launched the Oliver’s Campaign to drive meaningful healthcare improvements, urging practitioners to prevent similar tragedies from occurring. They tirelessly campaigned for years, believing Oliver’s untimely death should be of public concern.
His parents assert that Oliver’s death could have been prevented if medical staff had a better understanding of how autism affected his seizure activity. They emphasize that excessive drug administration and restraint methods were used instead of adapting the environment to meet his needs. Additionally, they express disappointment that no communication was made with community-based professionals who knew Oliver well and worked with him daily.
Their goal is to ensure that those providing care, support, and treatment for individuals with learning disabilities or autism abide by these principles:
- Prioritize people’s involvement in decision making
- Respect and consider their perspectives
- Avoid making decisions without their input
Through the Oliver’s Campaign, the family seeks to bring about lasting positive changes in the healthcare system and prevent similar tragedies from happening again.
WHY YOU SHOULD TRUST US?
Shreeji Training, a leading national provider, offers over 7,000 courses annually in health and safety, first aid, fire safety, food safety, mental health, health and social care, and other specialized topics.
Our diverse portfolio includes training awards tailored for health and social care organizations, covering Infection Control and Prevention, Safeguarding Adults, Duty of Care, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Person-Centered Care and Support, and more.
Our courses span Care Certificate standards, Level 2 and Level 3 Awards, and training for supervisors and managers.
Approved to deliver Tier 1 and Tier 2 as the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training provider for Learning Disabilities and Autism with HEE trained trios.
Our team of over 100 highly qualified and experienced trainers, including Facilitating Trainers or subject matter experts, combines personal experience with professional understanding and HEE training.
Pooja Barot, Director at Shreeji Training, emphasizes our commitment to excellence.