Oliver McGowan draft code of
practice on statutory learning disability and autism training:
government response to consultation
Minister of State for Care (): Today I am pleased to lay
in Parliament the Oliver McGowan draft Code of Practice (the
Code) on statutory learning disability and autism training. The
launch of this Code represents a significant moment in the
journey towards improving the care and treatment of people with a
learning disability and autistic people. With its clear focus to
ensure people receive tailored and compassionate support, it is
especially fitting to launch this Code after recently celebrating
World Autism Awareness Day in April and during Learning
Disability Week which this year is focusing on ensuring people
are seen, heard and valued. An easy read version of the Code is
also available.
The purpose of the Code is to ensure that service providers
registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have the
necessary guidance to meet the legal requirement introduced in
the Health and Care Act 2022. The effect of the requirement is
that, from 1 July 2022, CQC-registered providers are required to
ensure their staff receive training on learning disability and
autism, appropriate to their role. To aid those who need to
comply with the training requirement, the Secretary of State is
obliged by the 2022 Act to issue a Code of Practice. Therefore,
this Code sets out the standards that training needs to meet to
comply with the legislation and guidance on what providers need
to do to meet those standards.
As set out in the Code, the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on
Learning Disability and Autism is the Government's preferred and
recommended training package to support CQC-registered providers
to meet the new requirement. The training is named after Oliver
McGowan, a young autistic teenager with a mild learning
disability, who very sadly died after having a severe reaction to
medication given to him against his and his family's strong
wishes. Oliver's parents, Paula and Tom McGowan, have tirelessly
campaigned for better training for health and care staff to
improve understanding of the needs of people with a learning
disability or autistic people. The training has been trialled
with over 8,000 participants and independently evaluated to
ensure the final package is robust and high quality. A long-term,
independent evaluation on its delivery and impact is also now
underway.
People with a learning disability and autistic people experience
disparities in the quality of care they receive. Research
indicates that a lack of understanding and knowledge of learning
disability and autism likely contributes to this. This government
has set out three big shifts needed to make our health service
fit for the future, including shifting from treatment to
prevention and from hospitals to communities. Ensuring health and
care staff have the right knowledge and skills to provide
informed care for people with a learning disability and autistic
people will help to meet these goals and improve health outcomes.
The legislative requirement and the Code must be the catalyst for
positive cultural change. With them we can help to deliver care
and support that is tailored to the person, making sure that
staff have the right attitudes, skills and behaviours to support
people with a learning disability and autistic people safely,
confidently and respectfully.
