Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training

What is the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism?​

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism is named after Oliver McGowan, whose preventable death highlighted the urgent need for better training across health and social care. Under the Health and Care Act 2022, all CQC‑registered providers must ensure their staff receive learning disability and autism training that is appropriate to their role.

Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training (OMMT) is the government’s preferred and recommended autism and learning disability training for healthcare staff.

The Oliver McGowan Code of Practice was finalised on the 6th September 2025 and sets out the standards for how the training must be delivered. Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training programme has been nationally commissioned by NHS England, co-produced and quality assured; this training meets the statutory requirements and is recognised by the CQC. If employers opt to meet this requirement using alternative training programmes it must demonstrably meet the standards laid out in the Code of Practice.

The following animation explains the purpose of this training and why it is so important for health and social care staff.

Who needs to complete the training?

All health and social care staff need to undertake training that meets the standards laid out in the code of practice. The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training meets, represents and clearly demonstrates this standard as the content has been designed with a range of settings and job roles in mind.

Which tier of training you need to attend will depend on the nature of your role and how much you interact with patients. Ultimately your employer is responsible for confirming which tier is appropriate for your role. Both tiers are required to undertake two parts to complete this training, the parts are outlined below;

Tier 1

This applies to staff with indirect or occasional contact with patients, i.e. non-patient facing roles.

Part 1: eLearning module which is live on elfh or NWL Learning Hub.
Part 2: A 1-hour online interactive session co-delivered by a person with a learning disability, an autistic person, and a facilitator.

Tier 2

This applies to staff with regular or direct contact with patients, i.e. patient facing roles. This include all staff who provide care, support or make decisions, this is not limited to clinical roles.

Part 1: eLearning module which is live on elfh or NWL Learning Hub.
Part 2: A 1-day face to face training co-delivered by a person with a learning disability, an autistic person and a facilitating trainer

What is Part 1, the eLearning Module?

Part 1 is a mandatory eLearning module for all staff and must be completed before attending part 2 of this training.

You can access the eLearning Module via two routes:

NWL Learning Hub
Linked here is a guide to help you find the Oliver McGowan eLearning on the NWL Learning Hub if you are not using the NWL Learning Hub for all your mandatory training. If you use NWL Learning Hub for all your mandatory training, the Oliver McGowan training will automatically appear in your list of required training. If you haven’t registered before, you can also find a guide on how to register for an account.

eLearning for Healthcare (elfh)
If you don’t already have an account, you can find information on how to register here – https://support.e-lfh.org.uk/get-started/registration/#1601. Once you are logged into eLearning for Healthcare, you can search ‘Oliver McGowan’, or use this URL to go straight to the course where you can select ‘enrol’ – https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/Component/Details/781480.

Once completed you will be provided a certificate, you will need to present this when booking part 2 of this training.

What is Part 2, the live sessions?

Part 2 is the live and interactive part of this training. Part 2 builds on the eLearning and offers scenario-based learning, co-facilitated by people with lived experience of autism and learning disabilities. Your tier determines if you are required to attend the webinar or the face to face training. To meet CQC requirements all staff must attend training appropriate for their role.

Tier 1

Tier 1 staff (indirect or occasional contact with patients) are to attend a 1-hour interactive webinar.

Training dates coming soon.

Tier 2

Tier 2 staff (regular or direct contact with patients) must complete a 1 day face-to-face training.

Training dates coming soon.

Certificates will be issued on completion of this training.

FAQs

Nationally Endorsed Training

The programme supports national standards and legislative requirements to ensure staff have the right skills and knowledge to support people with learning disabilities and autistic people.

  • Meets the requirements of the Core Capabilities Framework for Autistic People and Core Capabilities Framework People with Learning Disabilities
  • Meets the requirements of Draft Code of Practice on statutory learning disability and autism training set in the Health and Social care Act 2023.

Created with Lived Experience

The training is co-developed and co-delivered by people with lived experience, ensuring it is meaningful, impactful, and reflective of real-world needs.

Supports Staff Mobility

Completion is portable across NHS and health organisations, meaning your training is recognised even if you move roles within the Integrated Care System (ICS).

Interactive and Engaging

Live sessions bring the training to life through real scenarios, with contributions from people with learning disabilities and autistic individuals. Sessions can also be adapted to reflect local services and context.

Builds Confidence and Competence

Staff completing the training report increased confidence in communication, behaviour, and providing more person-centred care and support.

If you are an employer you need to be able to demonstrate your staff have received training that meets the standards laid out in the Oliver McGowan Code of Practice. Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training programme has been nationally commissioned, co-produced and quality assured; this training meets the statutory requirements and is recognised by the CQC.

If you wish to attend Part 2 of this training, organised by NWL Training Hub, you will be asked to share a copy of your certificate from Part 1 of this training, without this certificate you will not be able to attend part 2. Alternative training certificates will not be accepted.

Refresh periods are set by individual organisations, but the recommended standard is every 3 years, or sooner if your role changes.

It is your employers responsibility to ensure you have received training appropriate to your role, if you are unsure please check with them.

Tier 1 is for all staff who may have contact with people with a learning disability or autistic people. If you have indirect or occasional contact with patients this will be your tier.

Tier 2 is for staff who provide care or support directly to people with a learning disability or autistic people. If you have regular or direct contact with patients this is your tier. Please note this is not limited to clinical roles.

If you are an employer you need to be able to demonstrate your staff have received training that meets the standards laid out in the Oliver McGowan Code of Practice. The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training programme has been nationally commissioned, co-produced and quality assured; this training meets the statutory requirements and is recognised by the CQC, at this time we are not aware of any other training programmes that meet the code of practice.

If you wish to attend Part 2 of this training, organised by NWL Training Hub, you will be asked to share a copy of your certificate from Part 1 of this training, without this certificate you will not be able to attend part 2. Alternative training certificates will not be accepted.