If someone you love has a learning disability or is autistic, you want the people supporting them to understand what that means day to day. If you are starting out as a support worker, you want to know what training to expect. The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism sits at the centre of both questions. This guide explains what the training is, who must complete it, how Tier 1 and Tier 2 differ, how often it is refreshed, and what the September 2025 code of practice changed.
What is Oliver McGowan training?
Oliver McGowan training is the government’s preferred and recommended training on learning disability and autism for health and social care staff in England. It is co-delivered by people with a learning disability and autistic people, and it comes in two tiers: Tier 1 for general awareness and Tier 2 for staff who provide care and support directly.
The training is designed to meet the standards in the Core Capabilities Frameworks for learning disability and autism, published by Skills for Health. Its aim is practical: helping staff understand people’s needs, make reasonable adjustments and avoid the mistakes that lead to poor or unsafe care.
Who was Oliver McGowan?
Oliver McGowan was a young autistic man with a mild learning disability and epilepsy. He died at Southmead Hospital, Bristol, on 11 November 2016, aged 18. His inquest heard that he had been given the antipsychotic medication olanzapine, despite his parents’ clear instructions that he should not receive it, and that it led to neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
His mother, Paula McGowan, led a campaign arguing that better staff understanding of learning disability and autism could prevent avoidable harm. The training that now carries Oliver’s name is the result.
Is Oliver McGowan training mandatory?
Yes, in practice, for CQC-registered services. Since 1 July 2022, the Health and Care Act 2022 has required every CQC-registered health and adult social care provider in England to make sure its staff receive learning disability and autism training appropriate to their role. The Oliver McGowan programme is the government’s preferred way to meet that duty.
The law requires appropriate training; the code of practice sets out what “appropriate” means. A provider can use a different package, but it must meet the same standards, including co-delivery by people with lived experience. CQC takes the code into account when it assesses services.
The Oliver McGowan code of practice (2025)
After a public consultation in 2023 and a government response in June 2025, the Oliver McGowan code of practice on statutory learning disability and autism training was laid before Parliament for 40 days. It became final on 6 September 2025, and DHSC published it on GOV.UK, with an easy-read version, on 18 September 2025.
The code uses two kinds of wording that matter to families and staff:
- “Must” – a requirement, such as covering the minimum curriculum, co-delivery by experts with lived experience and refreshing training at least every three years.
- “Should” – good practice, such as checking skills after training and picking up learning in supervision.
The code applies to all staff of CQC-registered providers, not only people in hands-on roles. Receptionists, schedulers, managers and drivers all need training at the level that fits their contact with the people a service supports.
Tier 1 vs Tier 2: what’s the difference?
Tier 1 is for staff who need a general awareness of the support autistic people and people with a learning disability may need. Tier 2 is for staff who provide care or support directly, or who may need to make decisions about someone’s care. Both tiers start with the same e-learning.
| Tier 1 | Tier 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it’s for | Staff who need general awareness (for example office, admin or occasional-contact roles) | Staff giving direct care and support, including most support workers and team leaders |
| Part 1 | 90-minute e-learning with handbook | The same 90-minute e-learning with handbook |
| Part 2 | 1-hour live online interactive session | 1-day face-to-face session |
| Co-delivered by | At least one person with a learning disability and one autistic person | At least one person with a learning disability and one autistic person |
| Typical content | What learning disability and autism are; reasonable adjustments; reflecting on attitudes | All of Tier 1, plus areas such as diagnostic overshadowing, related health conditions, the Mental Capacity Act and Equality Act, STOMP/STAMP, Ask Listen Do and LeDeR learning |
Staff who need Tier 2 can go straight to Tier 2; they do not have to finish the Tier 1 interactive session first.
What does Tier 2 cover that matters in supported living?
Several Tier 2 themes come up every week in supported living and home care:
- Diagnostic overshadowing – assuming a change in behaviour is “part of their learning disability” when it may be pain, illness or distress.
- STOMP and STAMP – national programmes to stop the over-medication of people with a learning disability or autistic people, and to support access to appropriate medicine.
- Mental capacity – supporting people to make their own decisions, and following the Mental Capacity Act when they cannot.
- Reasonable adjustments – changing how support or communication is offered so it works for the person.
- Ask Listen Do – an NHS England initiative to make it easier for people and families to give feedback, raise concerns and complain.
If you want to read more on these themes, our guide to understanding learning disabilities covers them from a family point of view.
How often does Oliver McGowan training need to be refreshed?
The code says training must be refreshed at least every three years. A provider should refresh it sooner if someone’s role changes, if supervision shows a gap in knowledge, or if the service starts supporting people with different needs. Refreshers should again follow the code’s standards, including co-delivery.
What does it mean for families?
For families, the training is a useful benchmark. It gives you a shared language with a provider and some concrete questions to ask before or during a placement. Training alone doesn’t guarantee good care; what matters is whether staff use it in how they support your relative.
Questions worth asking any supported living or home care provider:
- Which tier do your support workers complete, and how soon after they start?
- Is your training co-delivered by people with a learning disability and autistic people?
- How do you check that training shows up in practice, for example in supervision or spot checks?
- When is training refreshed, and how do you track it?
- How do you apply STOMP principles if medication is reviewed?
- How are reasonable adjustments recorded in my relative’s support plan?
A good provider will welcome these questions. If you are comparing options, our supported living services page explains how we work.
What does it mean if you’re becoming a support worker?
If you join a CQC-registered service that supports people with a learning disability or autistic people, expect Tier 2. You will usually complete the e-learning first, then attend the one-day face-to-face session as soon as a place is available, alongside your induction and the Care Certificate standards.
A few practical points:
- The e-learning is free for health and social care staff through the official platforms. Your employer will usually tell you which platform to use.
- Keep your certificate. It is evidence for future employers and for CQC.
- Funding exists for employers. DHSC has continued ring-fenced “Oliver’s Training” funding through the Learning and Development Support Scheme for 2026–27, available to staff of CQC-registered adult social care services in England.
- It applies in England. The code covers CQC-registered providers; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own arrangements.
Our step-by-step guide on how to become a support worker explains the wider route into the role, from DBS checks to induction.
Common myths about Oliver McGowan training
“It’s only for NHS staff.” No. It applies to all CQC-registered health and adult social care providers, including supported living and domiciliary care.
“Watching the e-learning is enough.” Not on its own. Both tiers include a live part co-delivered by people with lived experience.
“It’s a one-off.” The code requires a refresh at least every three years.
“Only frontline staff need it.” All staff need training appropriate to their role, including non-care staff.
Key takeaways
- Oliver McGowan training is the government’s preferred learning disability and autism training for CQC-registered services in England.
- The legal duty has applied since 1 July 2022; the code of practice became final on 6 September 2025.
- Tier 1 is 90 minutes of e-learning plus a one-hour live online session; Tier 2 is the same e-learning plus a one-day face-to-face session.
- Both tiers must be co-delivered by a person with a learning disability and an autistic person.
- Training must be refreshed at least every three years.
- Families can use the code as a checklist when choosing or reviewing a provider.
Frequently asked questions
What is Oliver McGowan training?
It is the government’s preferred learning disability and autism training for health and social care staff in England. It has two tiers, both starting with 90 minutes of e-learning, and is co-delivered by people with a learning disability and autistic people.
Is Oliver McGowan training a legal requirement?
CQC-registered providers must, by law since 1 July 2022, ensure staff receive learning disability and autism training appropriate to their role. Oliver McGowan training is the preferred way to meet that duty, and the 2025 code of practice sets the standard any alternative must meet.
What is the difference between Tier 1 and Tier 2?
Tier 1 gives general awareness: e-learning plus a one-hour live online session. Tier 2 is for staff providing direct care: the same e-learning plus a one-day face-to-face session covering topics such as diagnostic overshadowing, mental capacity and STOMP.
How long does Oliver McGowan training last?
The code of practice requires refresher training at least every three years, or sooner if a person’s role or learning needs change.
Do support workers need Tier 1 or Tier 2?
Support workers who give direct care to people with a learning disability or autistic people will normally need Tier 2. Staff can go straight to Tier 2 without completing the Tier 1 live session.
Is Oliver McGowan training free?
The e-learning is free for health and social care staff. Employers in CQC-registered adult social care in England can also claim funding for Oliver’s Training through the Learning and Development Support Scheme in 2026–27, subject to its rules.
Does Oliver McGowan training apply in Scotland or Wales?
The statutory duty and code of practice apply to CQC-registered providers, which means England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own regulators and training arrangements.
Talk to us about training and support
Whether you are looking for support for a relative or thinking about a career in care, training is a fair thing to ask about. Families and referrers can contact our team to ask how we train and supervise staff in our learning disability support and autism support services. If you’d like to build a career supporting people to live well, see our current careers.
