NEWS

Bild welcomes the publication of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training Trial in Learning Disability and Autism evaluation.

Bild welcomes this month’s publication of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training Trial in Learning Disability and Autism evaluation, published by NDTI.

In 2020, Bild was pleased to be chosen as one of the partners to co-design and co-deliver this vital training trial alongside people with lived experience, leading a consortium of eighteen organisations working in collaboration.

Lindsay Allen, Learning Disability Manager at Bild said:

“We are delighted that the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training has now been signed into law. It’s so important that people working in health and social care, whether professionals, practitioners, management or administrative staff, have access to training to help ensure better outcomes for autistic people and people with learning disabilities.

“Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, Bild is proud to have developed a blended learning model promoting best practice, delivering lasting impact, and creating meaningful cultural change across organisations.

The Mandatory Training will support those working in health and social care to provide better care for autistic people and people with learning disabilities and, ultimately, will save lives. It is important that the roll out of the Mandatory Training carefully considers how to maximise its impact, linking with other initiatives such as the UK Government’s social care white paper and the knowledge and skills framework.”

Kate Brackley, Bild’s Learning Disability Advisor said:

“It was a privilege to take part in the training and it is very important within the health and social care sector, because we don’t want any more cases like Oliver’s or for anyone else to go through that experience. We need to get the training out and really promote its importance, so this never happens again.”

The training is named after Oliver McGowan, a young autistic man who tragically died in 2016 after being given anti-psychotic medication in hospital. Oliver’s preventable death highlighted the need for health and social care staff to have greater access to training and to better understand the needs of people with learning disabilities and autistic people.

Oliver’s mother, Paula McGowan OBE, has led the campaign that resulted in the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training Trial. Recently, the Mandatory Training was signed into law and received royal assent, in an amendment to the Government’s Health and Social Care Act.

For further background on Bild’s involvement in the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Learning Disability and Autism Training Trial, please visit: https://www.bild.org.uk/oliver-mcgowan-mandatory-training-trial/

For further information on Oliver’s campaign, visit: https://www.olivermcgowan.org/