The long-awaited rollout of Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training in Learning disability and autism to assist healthcare staff has been officially launched in England following a several-year campaign by his mum Paula McGowan.
Earlier this year, the training was passed into law as part of the Health and Care Act 2022 for the health and care sectors to provide better care for people with learning difficulties after a lengthy campaign in memory of 18-year-old Oliver. He died in 2016 after being given antipsychotic medication, despite warnings from his family that they were unsuitable for him.
Paula McGowan OBE said: “I take comfort in knowing that the death of my teenage son Oliver has resulted in a positive change as a direct consequence, something which will resonate with many and is deeply meaningful to me.
READ MORE: Oliver McGowan's legacy lives on after law is passed in his name
“I have been humbled to observe all health and care colleagues working collaboratively to strive for this change. There is more work to be done, but the journey has now started, and I truly believe we are on the right trajectory to achieve better health and care outcomes for neurodivergent people.”
The health secretary, Steve Barclay, said: "What happened to Oliver was a tragedy – this training is a vital next step to address existing health inequalities for autistic people and people with a learning disability, providing them with the right care and support in health and care settings"
The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training comes in two tiers and is designed so staff receive the right level of training. Tier 1 is for staff who need a general awareness of the support autistic people or people with a learning disability may need, while tier two is for people who may need to provide care and support.
Both tiers will complete a 90-minute e-learning package, which has now gone live. It includes learning from autistic people and people with a learning disability, their carers, family members and subject matter experts.
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