Oliver McGowan Training has emerged as one of the most significant learning requirements within health and social care in England. The training is aimed at helping employees gain skills on dealing with people having learning disabilities and those who have autism. This article will outline the significance of Tier 2, the target audience, content, and benefits of this training program. Be you a manager of a care facility or a member of the front line, the information provided in the subsequent sections will be useful to you.

What Is Oliver McGowan Tier 2 Training

Oliver McGowan Tier 2 training forms part of the national standard for learning disability and autism training that has been co-developed by NHS England and the government. The program is structured into tiers such that the learning is in accordance with the amount of interaction the staff has with the people that have a learning disability or are autistic. Tier 2 training caters to staff who might require to give care and support or interact regularly with these people but require more than awareness only.

The Tier 2 training adds the practical element and case studies to the general awareness provided in Tier 1, along with providing guidelines on how reasonable adjustments could be made. The training is delivered together with the trainers that themselves have had the experience, giving an added life to the topic, something that the slide decks alone cannot do.

The Story Behind the Oliver McGowan Training

Oliver McGowan was a young adult aged 18 who suffered from autism and a learning disability but passed away after taking anti psychotic medication in 2016. Despite the family making it clear that he should not take such medication, their views were ignored. The family consisting of the parents, Paula and Tom McGowan, used the grief from this tragedy to create a campaign to prevent others from experiencing what they went through.

The result of their efforts was mandatory learning disability and autism training for those working in healthcare and social care outlined in the Health and Care Act 2022. The training is named after Oliver McGowan so that his legacy may live on through practice. This course serves as a reminder to every student that paying attention to people's and their families' voices can literally save lives.

Who Needs to Complete Tier 2 Training

The appropriate tier is determined by the function of the individual and his or her level of interaction with individuals who have a learning disability or who are autistic. The Tier 2 training would be relevant for colleagues who would have to provide support or who would be meeting such people but are not specialists. These could be support workers across mixed provision, domiciliary care, and community care staff, nurses and healthcare assistants in non-specialist provision, as well as the front of house and administrative staff.

For people who will work frequently with these kinds of people, or who will have some authority over these people, it may be necessary that they receive Tier 3 training. It is very important that the managers should carefully consider every job position, study the National Code of Practice, and maintain tiers of every employee.

Key Topics Covered in Tier 2 Training

Learning what learning disability and autism is and isn’t comes under the Tier 2 training program. Learners are exposed to the various forms of communication, information processing and experience by different people, which may involve the senses causing problems with noisy and busy environments.

It also covers the topic of health inequality by giving an understanding of the reasons why people with learning disability and those with autism suffer from poor health outcomes and have reduced life expectancy. This includes the topic of diagnostic overshadowing whereby true physical and psychological symptoms are misunderstood and wrongly attributed to the condition. Other related topics include the Mental Capacity Act, Best Interests Decision Making, Person Centred Planning and listening to families, carers and the individual.

How Tier 2 Training Improves Daily Care Practice

The true value of the training lies in the little things done by employees during regular shifts. Having completed Tier 2, employees become more inclined to think twice when faced with an assumption that a particular shift in behavior is nothing more than a manifestation of a person’s condition, and if a pain, fear or unmet need could be the trigger for it. Employees feel more secure about modifying their communication style, their time frame, and approach to delivering the information.

These modifications may be very simple things such as the use of a plain language, provision of a calm place, or making appointments at different times of the day. However, they make all the difference between a person being perceived as anxious and ignored, and a person being listened to and accepted. Gradually, an atmosphere that is built within such a team becomes a reliable source of compassionate care for both patients and their families.

Supporting People With Learning Disabilities and Autism More Effectively

Support should begin with recognizing the individual first and the condition second. Tier 2 training provides staff with strategies that they can immediately use, which include the following.

• Use easy language and make sure the person understands.
• Provide additional time for processing information and for answering.
• Avoid sensory triggers such as bright lighting, noise and overcrowding.
• Adapt appointments, procedures and environments.
• Work collaboratively with families, carers and advocates in decision making.
• Recognize underlying issues by moving past behavior problems.

None of these strategies needs expensive technology or substantial investment of money. These strategies depend on attitude and consistency, which is precisely what high quality training facilitates.

Legal Requirements and CQC Expectations for Care Providers

According to the Health and Care Act 2022, staff members employed in regulated services are supposed to get training in learning disabilities and autism, which would be relevant to their roles. The government has produced a Code of Practice outlining how such training is supposed to be provided, and Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training is the recommended standard to use in providing this training. 

The Care Quality Commission is supposed to see that the training in question is done well enough by the providers. Role-appropriate training, recording and application of learning in practice can all help create an impression during inspections. It will be easier for providers who plan their training ahead, maintain relevant matrices and reflect appropriately.

Benefits for Care Staff and Employers

Tier 2 training for staff offers confidence, improves communication abilities, and gives a more defined purpose. Staff members who feel competent enough to be able to support individuals with a learning disability or autism tend to have a better experience in their work and remain longer within their jobs.

The advantages of Tier 2 training for employers include a high level of quality of service, low level of complaints, high inspections' outcomes, and good reputation among commissioners and parents. Most of the providers prefer to include this type of training along with other important courses, such as moving and handling, safeguarding, and basic life support training Bristol services. This approach will help save the time of employees since all the necessary courses will be taken at once.

What to Expect From a Face to Face Training Session

The first stage of learning at tier two normally involves an online e-learning component, which is then followed by a live interactive session. In the case where the live session takes place physically, participants will often find it engaging and interactive as opposed to being formal. Lived experience trainers tell personal stories, helping the staff understand the actual effects of making certain decisions.

Participants should expect discussion groups, real-life scenarios, and questions that may be asked in a supportive environment. The sessions are respectful, practical and thought-provoking as opposed to a box-ticking event. After the session, participants will get evidence of attendance that can be included in the staff training record. Participants are supposed to dress comfortably, take their notebooks if need be, and participate in sharing their ideas with other staff members.

Choosing a Trusted Health and Social Care Training Provider in Bristol

Selecting an appropriate provider is as equally important as choosing an appropriate training course. First of all, ensure that the training is in accordance with the national standard and is delivered or facilitated by people who had direct experience of working with people with learning difficulties and/or autism. Ask about the provider's procedures of documentation, issuing certificates and assistance in achieving compliance for employers.

One may also want to consider practical aspects such as training location, number of participants, availability of flexible date and conducting training at your workplace. Research the market, ask for referrals from other care providers and speak directly to the provider's staff about your needs. An honest and close-by provider will be only happy to answer any questions you have and recommend which tier suits which job position.

Conclusion

Training at Tier 2 Oliver McGowan is much more than a legal compliance issue. It is about remembering the memory of a young man, bettering the care provided to individuals with learning disabilities and people with autism and ensuring that the care providers are properly trained. With the right understanding of the kind of individuals who need the training, the content of the training and how to select the right provider for such training, you can rest assured that your staff will listen and care. Start with conducting role analysis and assigning the right tier to all of them and arranging the training which they will follow through.