Nathan KwabiMPharm (Hons), University of Reading
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Published 7 April 2026
Key takeaway
The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism is a legal requirement for all health and social care staff in England. Care homes must ensure staff complete the appropriate tier — Tier 1 for all staff, Tier 2 for those with direct care responsibilities. Training must be delivered by accredited providers using co-produced content with people with lived experience.
The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism was introduced following the Health and Care Act 2022. It is named after Oliver McGowan, whose death in 2016 highlighted the consequences of inadequate understanding of learning disability and autism within health and social care settings.
The training is the government’s response to ensuring all health and social care staff in England have the knowledge and skills to provide safe, compassionate, and informed care to people with learning disabilities and autistic people.
For care home managers, this is not optional. CQC inspectors will ask about it, and your staff training records need to show compliance.
Tier 1 applies to all staff who work in health and social care settings — including those who do not have direct care responsibilities. This includes reception staff, catering, maintenance, and administrative roles. The training provides a foundational awareness of learning disability and autism.
Tier 2 is for staff who have regular or direct contact with people who have a learning disability or are autistic, or who make decisions about their care and support. This includes care workers, nurses, team leaders, registered managers, and clinical staff.
If you’re unsure which tier applies to specific roles in your care home, the general rule is: if they interact with residents, they need Tier 2.
CQC does not currently have a standalone Quality Statement for Oliver McGowan training, but it falls under several existing areas. Under the “Staff skills and knowledge” Quality Statement (W5), inspectors assess whether your staff have received appropriate training for the people they support.
If your care home supports residents with learning disabilities or autism — and many do, even where this is not the primary service type — inspectors will expect to see evidence that relevant staff have completed Tier 2 training.
The evidence CQC looks for includes: training records showing completion dates, confirmation that training was delivered by an accredited provider, and evidence that co-production requirements were met (training delivered alongside people with lived experience).
Start by auditing your staff list against the tier requirements. Identify which roles need Tier 1 and which need Tier 2. Create a training schedule that covers all staff within a reasonable timeframe.
Choose an accredited training provider — this is important because the Oliver McGowan framework has specific delivery requirements, particularly for Tier 2 (co-production with people with lived experience).
Build the training into your ongoing staff development plan. New starters should complete the appropriate tier as part of their induction. Record everything — CQC will want to see dates, provider details, and tier completion for each staff member.
Life Care Training aligns its safeguarding, mental capacity, and equality courses with the principles underpinning the Oliver McGowan Code of Practice. While we are working towards Lead Trainer accreditation for the branded Oliver McGowan programme, our existing courses cover the core knowledge areas that CQC expects to see evidenced.
If you’re looking for guidance on how to meet the Oliver McGowan requirements alongside your broader mandatory training plan, get in touch. We can help you map your current training against the requirements and identify any gaps.
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