Anyone working in health and social care in England now has a legal responsibility to understand learning disability and autism properly, not just in theory but in how it affects real people every single day. This is exactly what oliver mcgowan mandatory training sets out to achieve, giving staff the knowledge and confidence to provide care that genuinely respects the needs of autistic people and those with a learning disability.
At Shreeji Training, we believe this training should never feel like a box ticking exercise. It is about real understanding, built from lived experience, so staff walk away with skills they can actually use in day to day care.
Where This Training Came From
This training is named after Oliver McGowan, a young man with a learning disability and autism who sadly passed away after receiving treatment that did not properly consider his specific needs. His story led to a national push for better understanding among health and care staff, and it eventually became a legal requirement for many workers in the sector.
Because of this background, oliver mcgowan training is built differently from many other courses. It includes input and delivery from people with real lived experience of learning disability and autism, rather than relying only on clinical explanations. This gives staff a much deeper understanding of what good care actually looks like from the perspective of the people receiving it.
What the Training Actually Covers
The course is delivered in two parts. The first part focuses on general awareness, helping staff understand what learning disability and autism actually mean, common misconceptions, and how these conditions can affect a person’s experience of health and social care. It also covers communication approaches, since many negative experiences in care stem from poor communication rather than a lack of clinical knowledge.
The second part goes further, focusing on how to apply this understanding directly in practice. This includes recognising signs of distress, adjusting communication and environment to reduce anxiety, and understanding how a person’s needs might change depending on the situation they are in, such as a hospital visit or emergency care setting.
Why General Awareness Alone Falls Short
Many staff already have some understanding of learning disability and autism, but general awareness is often not enough to provide truly appropriate care. Proper learning disability and autism training goes beyond surface level knowledge, helping staff understand the small adjustments that can make a huge difference, such as allowing extra time for communication, reducing sensory overload, or recognising signs of discomfort that might not be obvious to someone unfamiliar with these conditions.
This deeper understanding often changes how staff approach entire interactions, not just specific moments of care. It shifts the mindset from simply following a checklist to genuinely thinking about the person in front of them and what they might need to feel safe and understood.
Who Needs to Complete This Training
Since this training became a legal requirement, it applies to a wide range of roles across health and social care, including doctors, nurses, care assistants, support workers, and anyone else who interacts directly with autistic people or those with a learning disability as part of their work. Completing this mandatory training on learning disability and autism is not optional for many roles, and organisations are expected to make sure their staff are properly trained and up to date.
This requirement exists because the consequences of poor understanding in this area can be serious, sometimes life threatening, as shown by the very story this training is named after. Making sure staff at every level complete this training helps protect vulnerable people and improves outcomes across the entire care system.
The Value of Learning From Lived Experience
One of the most powerful parts of this training is that it is co-delivered by autistic people and people with a learning disability, alongside professional trainers. This structure gives learners a perspective that textbooks simply cannot provide. Hearing directly from someone about their own experiences with the care system often has a much stronger impact than reading about it secondhand.
This approach also helps break down assumptions that staff might not even realise they hold. Many people believe they understand autism or learning disability reasonably well, only to discover through this training that their understanding was incomplete or based on outdated ideas.
Building a Better Care Culture
When staff across an organisation complete this training together, it does more than meet a legal requirement. It builds a shared understanding and language across the whole team, which improves consistency in how patients and service users are treated. This shared foundation makes it easier for staff to support each other, recognise when adjustments are needed, and create an environment where autistic people and those with a learning disability feel genuinely respected and understood.
Why Choose Shreeji Training
Shreeji Training delivers this course with care, respect, and a genuine commitment to improving how autistic people and people with a learning disability are treated within health and social care. We keep our sessions practical and grounded in real situations, making sure learners leave with knowledge they can apply immediately, not just information to remember for a test.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is this training a legal requirement?
Yes, this training is mandatory for many roles across health and social care in England.
2. Who delivers this training?
The training is co-delivered by professional trainers alongside autistic people and people with a learning disability, giving learners real lived experience insight.
3. How long does the course take to complete?
The course is delivered in two parts, with total time varying depending on the specific tier required for your role.
4. What is the difference between Tier 1 and Tier 2?
Tier 1 focuses on general awareness, while Tier 2 covers more in-depth, practical application for roles with direct patient or service user contact.
5. Do I need to renew this training regularly?
Yes, many organisations require refresher training periodically to ensure staff knowledge stays current.
6. Is this training only for clinical staff?
No, it applies to a wide range of roles, including care assistants, support workers, and administrative staff who interact with service users.
Get in Touch
If you or your organisation need to complete this mandatory training, contact Shreeji Training today. Our team is happy to help you find the right course and get your staff properly trained.
Address: Unit 10, Chigwell Industrial Centre, Nathan Way, London E4 8DG, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 8559 6666
Email: info@shreejitraining.com
Course Page: https://shreejitraining.com/short-courses-for-care/mental-health-training/
