Health Education England has announced the partners that have been selected to design, develop, trial and evaluate the Oliver McGowan mandatory training for health and social care staff who support patients with learning disabilities and autism. 

The training is named after Oliver McGowan whose sad death shone a light on the need for health and social care staff to have better access to training that offers a greater understanding of learning disabilities and autism and helps improve their skills and confidence when delivering care. 

Mark Radford, Chief Nurse, Health Education England, highlighted the “important need for greater education and training of health and care staff in learning disability and autism”.

“There are too many examples where experiences and outcomes of service users and families needs to improve and part of this has to be greater awareness and training of our staff,” he said. 

The organisations that have been selected as partners include: 

• British Institute of Learning Disabilities
• Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
• Royal Mencap Society/National Autistic Society 
• Pathways Associates CIC 
• National Development Team for inclusion 

HEE: Partners announced to deliver the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Learning Disability and Autism training for all health and social care staff

HEE: Health Education England leaders send messages of support for Oliver’s campaign

MENCAP: Mencap announced as one of the partners developing the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Learning Disability and Autism training