Skills for Care and HEE are co-ordinating the development of training that aims to make sure staff working in health and social care receive learning disability and autism training, at the right level for their role. They'll have a better understanding of people’s needs, resulting in better services and improved health and wellbeing outcomes. The training is also being co-produced and delivered by autistic people, people with a learning disability and family carers to make sure it meets their needs.
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 training that offers a greater understanding and will help improve their skills and confidence when delivering care to people with learning disabilities and autistic people.
Following Oliver McGowans death, in November 2019 the Government published 'Right to be heard' its response to the consultation on proposals for introducing mandatory learning disability and autism training for health and social care staff. The response included a commitment to develop a standardised training package and it will draw on existing best practice, the expertise of people with autistic people, people with a learning disability and family carers as well as subject matter experts. 
Want more information about the trials and evaluation?
Skills for Care is coordinating all enquiries about the trials and evaluation, on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care and Health Education England. If you have a question, please email us or the HEE.
Visit the Health Education England webstie to find out more about Oliver's campaign, the trial partners, what the training looks like and some useful FAQs.
Skills for Care in partnership with East Sussex County Council (ESCC), Adult Social Care Training Team has developed a guide which sets out how to support people with learning disabilities and autistic people with some of the current COVID-19 challenges. These practical guidelines will help staff, carers and family members support people to adapt their behaviour without increasing anxiety for themselves or the person they’re caring for.
There's also a range of resources which can be used to support people with learning disabilities and autistic people which include easy read documents, videos, social stories and webinars and they cover a range of topics from COVID-19, communication, face coverings, handwashing and other PPE topics.
Find out more
Skills for Care has developed an Individual Service Fund workforce guide where someone who needs care and support chooses an organisation to manage the budget on their behalf. The guide shares key workforce learning and benefits of ISFs; how to introduce and implement them and how to overcome some of the challenges, as well as some of the learning and development implications.
Visit the Commissioning page to find out more information and download the guide.