Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism
At Ashfield Services, we are proud to be working in partnership with approved Oliver McGowan Facilitators and Experts by Lived Experience across the country to offer Tier 1 and Tier 2 Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training (OMMT) on Learning Disability and Autism, the government’s standardised and recommended training package for all health and social care staff.
Why This Training Matters
The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training was created in honour of Oliver McGowan, a much-loved young man whose life was sadly cut short due to a lack of understanding around his needs. His story has inspired a national commitment to do better.
This training helps ensure staff feel informed, confident, and supported in delivering compassionate, respectful care to autistic people and individuals with learning disabilities. It’s a vital step towards creating a more inclusive, person-centred approach across all services.
It was mandated by the Health and Care Act 2022, which requires CQC‑registered service providers to ensure their staff receive training appropriate to their role.
Your Training Journey
Before You Begin
You must complete the Oliver McGowan Tier 1 (Part 1) eLearning
Before you can progress into Part 2 of Tier 1 or Tier 2 training, it is essential that you complete the FREE Tier 1 (Part 1) eLearning. This course should take you around 1 hour to complete.
To complete this training, you will need to register on the NHS England eLearning for Healthcare (ELFH) platform. Once you have completed this training, you can book onto either the Tier 1 or Tier 2 training depending on your requirements.
If you require any assistance in booking your eLearning, please contact a member of our team who will be happy to assist you.
Which training do I need?
Tier 1 Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training (Part 2)
Tier 1 (Part 2) is a live and interactive 1-hour online session.
This training is suitable for non patient facing staff in the health and social care sector, who do not have any contact with patients or clients.
This training is suitable for all healthcare staff working in CQC registered health and social care settings. It provides attendees with a general awareness of the needs of autistic people and people with learning disabilities.
Tier 2 Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training
Tier 2 is an all day face-to-face workshop.
This training is suitable for staff who provide direct care and support to people with learning disabilities and autism in the health and social care sector.
Staff with direct care responsibilities or who may need to make reasonable adjustments or use frameworks like the Mental Capacity Act, DNACPR, hospital passports, and
co-morbidity considerations.
If you are still unsure which Tier you require, please consult the Oliver McGowan Tier Guidance or contact a member of our team who can advise you.
Looking to book for a group of 10 or more?
Please contact our team to discuss wider options
Why Choose Ashfield as Your Training Provider?
At Ashfield, we understand that delivering high-quality Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training requires more than simply meeting requirements. It takes expertise, lived experience, and a commitment to supporting every learner.
We work with a network of more than 60 approved trainers and lived experience experts across England, ensuring organisations have access to knowledgeable, engaging, and person-centred training. Every trainer is individually supported by our dedicated team to maintain the highest standards of delivery and learner experience.
Our experienced team is here to guide you through the process, from booking your training to selecting the most appropriate tier for your workforce. We take the time to understand your organisation’s needs and provide practical support at every stage.
Quality is at the heart of everything we do. Through rigorous quality assurance processes, ongoing trainer support, and continuous monitoring, we ensure every training session meets the standards expected of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training programme.
With many years of experience delivering training across health and social care, Ashfield Services is a trusted partner for organisations looking to build understanding, improve practice, and create more inclusive services.
We are proud to have been assessed by the Skills for Care Quality Assured Care Learning Service and adhere to both the 9 organisational quality standards and the 3 Oliver McGowan quality measures. This enables our clients to be assured that we deliver quality training and are experienced and committed to properly employing trainers who are autistic or have a learning disability in a way that is consistently contextualised to the audience or setting.
Meet the Team
Our Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training programme is led by a dedicated team committed to delivering meaningful learning experiences.
Lyndy Tinculescu
Manager of Oliver’s Training
Lyndy oversees the programme as Manager of Oliver’s Training, ensuring quality, consistency, and support for both trainers and organisations.
Jax Blunt
Oliver McGowan Training Lead
Jax brings valuable insight as both a facilitator and co-trainer, helping to create engaging and impactful learning experiences that reflect the principles of the programme.
LDSS Funding For Oliver McGowan Training Explained
Adult social care providers can claim LDSS funding to reimburse the costs of delivering Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism. Funding is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the allocated funding pot has been exhausted, no furtherclaims can be reimbursed.
This funding is ring-fenced specifically for Oliver McGowan Training.
Reimbursement Rates
Tier 1: Up to £25 per learner
Tier 2: Up to £90 per learner
Maximum reimbursement: £25,000 per legal entity.
Eligibility
To claim funding, employers must:
✓ Be a CQC-registered Adult Social Care provider
✓ Have an up-to-date ASC-WDS account
Eligible Staff
Funding can be claimed for both regulated and non-regulated staff, including:
✓ Care Staff
✓ Registered Professionals
✓ Deputy Managers
✓ CQC-Registered Managers
✓ Agency Staff
For training completed between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027, claims must be submitted within 3 months of course completion.
*information correct on gov website as of june 2026
Oliver McGowan Training Specific FAQs
The Elearning takes around an hour and a half.
Tier 1 webinar is 1 hour.
Tier 2 face to face training is two half day sessions, most often delivered as one full day of training. The learning disability session must always be delivered first.
Anyone working in health and care settings regulated by CQC is required by law to have this level of training.
It would also be useful for anyone working with autistic people or people with a learning disability but not providing regulated services. For example, charity shop managers will often have volunteers with a variety of conditions, but do not receive training to understand this.
Both Tiers start with the e-learning, this is required for all attendees.
Tier 1 is a one hour online training aimed at people not providing direct care, but working in organisations that do. It is to build understanding and awareness.
Tier 2 is two half day sessions, face to face and goes into a lot more depth. It is aimed at people who offer care and support, or who make decisions about services.
The Health and Care Act 2022 introduced a requirement that CQC-regulated service providers ensure their staff receive training on learning disability and autism which is appropriate to the person’s role.
The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism is the standardised training that was developed for this purpose and is the government's preferred and recommended training for health and social care staff to undertake.
The e-learning is part 1 of both Tiers, and is online. Tier 1 (part 2) is online. Tier 2 (part 2) is face to face.
Yes. Adult social care employers can claim reimbursement. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-social-care-learning-and-development-support-scheme/learning-and-development-support-scheme-for-the-adult-social-care-workforce-a-guide-for-employers
The training is valid for 3 years, then a refresher training course is required.
Ashfield Services Training FAQs
For Learners
Yes. Upon successful completion you’ll receive a digital certificate of attendance, meeting regulatory and professional-body requirements.
Most of our certificates are valid for 12 months or 36 months unless otherwise stated. You’ll be contacted by us via email when your certificate is due for renewal.
Please contact us and your employer (where applicable) as soon as possible, and we will work with you in sourcing the next available date.
All of our Educators are subject-matter experts from health and social care backgrounds. Each holds recognised teaching qualifications and up-to-date sector experience. You can find out more about our clinical team on our Meet the Team page.
All materials are supplied to you via email, including an electronic copy of your delegate booklet which we encourage you to print and bring along on the day.
Yes. Our training is practical and engaging, with case studies, discussion, and simulated competency exercises.
Certificates are normally issued the next working day following course completion.
We understand that there can be traffic and other issues when you are attending courses. In the main, we allow a period of 15 minutes for lateness. After the 15 minute time is up it will depend on the individual tutor. They will take into consideration how much of the content of the course you have missed and whether this will have an impact on the desired learning. After 15 minutes you may be asked NOT to join the course.
For Employers and Those Booking Training
Yes, and it’s one of our biggest strengths. Our experienced Educators can come directly to your premises to deliver training on-site, allowing your staff to learn together in a familiar environment. This approach reduces travel time, minimises rota disruption, and enables us to tailor the content to your service.
For teams spread across multiple sites, we also offer live virtual training, ideal for remote access anywhere in the UK, and public venue sessions for those who prefer to attend off-site. Whatever your setup, we make it easy for your staff to access high-quality, evidence-based training in the way that suits them best.
We recommend booking on-site training at least four weeks in advance to secure your preferred date. Our live booking system allows us to confirm availability instantly, so you’ll know right away which dates are open. If you have an urgent request, we can often accommodate it thanks to our flexible scheduling and nationwide Educator network.
Whilst there is no minimum delegate number, most on-site courses run with 4–12 delegates. For larger teams, multiple sessions can be arranged on consecutive days.
Absolutely. We see ourselves as an extension of your training team, working with you to ensure every course reflects your organisation’s policies, procedures, and culture. Our Educators adapt examples and scenarios to your care setting, whether that’s residential, dementia, or complex care. This collaborative approach means your staff receive relevant, practical learning that fits seamlessly into your daily practice. Just send us over your procedures and policies to incorporate.
We match Educators based on professional background and clinical expertise to ensure the best fit for your team. Prefer a specific Educator? Just ask, and we’ll accommodate where possible.
We specialise in Health and Social Care, but our training portfolio also supports a wide range of regulated and non-regulated sectors including education, housing, community care, and corporate services.
Our core programmes include essential compliance and workplace safety courses such as Fire Safety, Basic Life Support (BLS), Automated External Defibrillation (AED), and First Aid at Work. We also deliver advanced and clinical subjects tailored to specific service types, from residential and dementia care to supported living and nursing environments.
Whether you’re a care home, domiciliary service, or multi-site organisation, our flexible training options can be adapted to your workforce and setting.
Attendance records are issued with certificates. Assessment outcomes (where applicable), and delegate feedback summaries can be provided upon request.
Yes, and we often do. Our coordination team manages regional scheduling, Educator allocation, and centralised reporting for multi-site organisations. Speak to our team for more information.
Invoices are issued on the day of your course and are payable within 30 days.
We offer a 14-day cooling-off period from the date of booking, during which you may cancel or change your on-site course without charge. Please submit your request in writing to cancel@ashfieldservices.co.uk
If the booking is confirmed and a course date is agreed within 14 days of booking, the cooling-off period no longer applies.
Beyond the 14-day cooling-off period, cancellation fees are applied in line with our full Terms & Conditions, which can be found on our website.
For postponements, please contact us as soon as possible. We will do our best to accommodate changes. Full policy details are in our Terms & Conditions.
A quiet room with adequate space, seating, power supply and access to hand-washing facilities, that apply to health and safety regulations. Some clinical courses require additional equipment, but full details will be sent upon booking.
We provide feedback and can arrange follow-up assessment or refresher sessions as needed.
We can offer flexible pricing for multi-course or group bookings to help you maximise value and streamline your staff training. Get in touch for a tailored quote.
All courses have a knowledge assessment. There are two reasons for this. The knowledge assessment is required as part of the competency requirements. Secondly, the aim is to assess the amount of earning that has taken place during the course and the guide you to further training if necessary.
Competencies have two components: the Knowledge Units and the Performance Criteria. Your knowledge units are evidenced by your certificate of attendance and your knowledge assessment. Your performance criteria is evidenced in two ways, according to the course you are undertaking. Firstly, there will be a simulated competence which you will undertake during the course and, secondly, you will return to your workplace to have supervised practice on live people a number of time before you can practice unsupervised. Some courses require self-assessment but you will still have simulated practice during the course. Some course do not require competences. These are usually ‘Awareness’ courses.
Each course is dependant on the length of the session. As a “rule of thumb” our Half Day courses are equivalent to 3 CPD Hours and 2 Participatory Hours and our Full Day courses are equivalent to 6 CPD Hours and 5 Participatory Hours.
Due Diligence and Quality Assurance
We are Quality Assured by Skills for Care on the delivery of our Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training, giving you full reassurance of a trusted provider. All Facilitators and Co-trainers with lived experience have undertaken the necessary OMMT training and have NHS England certification. For all other training we deliver, we are not formally accredited by a single awarding body. However, all of our courses are rigorously reviewed to ensure they meet or exceed current sector standards and regulatory expectations. Each course undergoes a structured review, including peer and design review by experienced industry professionals with in-depth health and social care expertise. This continuous evaluation process ensures that our training remains accurate, relevant, and fully aligned with CQC requirements, Skills for Care frameworks, and other recognised best-practice standards.
Yes. We hold full public-liability and professional-indemnity insurance; evidence is available upon request
Ashfield Services has been a trusted training partner in the health and social care sector for over a decade. With a portfolio of more than 180 courses, our Educators bring over 150 years of combined experience as clinicians, educators, and sector specialists.
Our team includes award-winning professionals, published researchers, and national advisors who ensure every course reflects real-world practice and current regulatory standards. Client feedback consistently highlights the quality, relevance, and reliability of our training; many describe us as an extension of their own training team.
Courses are continuously reviewed against regulatory updates, delegate feedback and Educator audits to maintain high standards.
Yes. We operate comprehensive safeguarding and safer-recruitment policies, and all Educators hold enhanced DBS checks.
Yes. Client references and case studies can be supplied to support your procurement due-diligence process.
We comply fully with UK GDPR requirements and maintain secure data handling across all booking and assessment systems. Further information can be found within our Privacy Policy, which you can access via our website.