Course description

This course is a one-day programme designed to equip health and social care professionals with the knowledge, skills and confidence to provide safe, effective and person-centred care for autistic people and people with a learning disability.

Suitable for all health and social care staff who have regular contact with, or provide care and support to, autistic people and people with a learning disability, this training helps participants develop a greater understanding of individual needs, improve communication, and deliver more inclusive services.

The training is named in memory of Oliver McGowan, whose experiences highlighted the need for health and social care professionals to have a better understanding of learning disability and autism. His story has played a significant role in shaping national efforts to improve care, support and health outcomes.

Developed in line with the Department of Health and Social Care's Right to be Heard (2019) recommendations and the Core Capabilities Frameworks for Supporting People with a Learning Disability and Supporting Autistic People, the course meets the national learning outcomes for Tier 2 training.

The course is facilitated by St Luke's Hospice. alongside experts with lived experience of Autism and Learning Disabilities from Speak Up Self Advocacy group led by and for people with learning disabilities and autism.

Speak Up empowers people to have a voice, access opportunities and play an active role in society, bringing invaluable lived experience to our Oliver McGowan Tier 1 and now Oliver McGowan Tier 2 Mandatory Training programmes.

Course structure

The one-day programme is divided into two interactive sessions:

• Morning session: Learning disability

• Afternoon session: Autism

Delivery method

This training is delivered exclusively through face-to-face workshops, providing participants with an engaging and interactive learning experience that encourages discussion, reflection and the application of learning to practice.

Topics covered

By the end of the course, participants will be better equipped to:

• Recognise individual needs

• Make reasonable adjustments

• Deliver high-quality, person-centred care that improves experiences and outcomes for autistic people and people with a learning disability

PLEASE NOTE: Prior to attending this session, you must complete the required e-learning. Completion of this is mandatory and is prerequisite for attendance this session.