Frequently asked questions
Please browse our frequently asked questions below about the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism four-day Tier 2 lead trainer training.
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Please see the NHS England website for further background to The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism.
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The four-day training takes place over two consecutive weeks. The learning disability content is delivered over two days in week 1. The autism content is delivered over two days the following week (week 2).
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All four days of training take place between 9.30am and 4.30pm. This includes a break in the morning, a lunch break and a break in the afternoon.
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There is space on the application form where you can add any necessary adjustments that you want the trainers to be aware of before your attendance. Once your place on the course is confirmed, you can also email the trainers at nasommttraining@nas.org.uk to let them know of any adjustments you may need.
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If you need some help to fill in our application form, please email our training team on nasommttraining@nas.org.uk and they will be more than happy to help.
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No, you need to ensure that you attend the learning disability and autism days within the same cohort.
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In order to become an approved trainer, you need to attend the course and also demonstrate during the course that you meet all the criteria. Once approved, you will be able to co-deliver the following courses, making sure you follow the NHS England delivery model:- 1-day Tier 2 course
- 2-day facilitating trainer training
- 3-day co-trainer training for people with a learning disability
- 3-day co-trainer training for autistic people.
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You will need to successfully complete the four-day lead trainer training. There is a quality assurance process in place according to where you will be asked to fill in two questionnaires and submit a video recording of yourself reflecting on the value of the training. These will be assessed by the National Autistic Society Assessment and Approval Group, which includes people with lived experience.Once approved at that stage, the National Autistic Society will recommend lead trainers for approval to NHS England. NHS England will send out a letter with information and a link to a form.
Once you have completed the form with your details and signed up to the conditions of delivery, NHS England will send you a certificate and trainer approval number. You will be given access to NHS Futures so you can join the community of practice of approved trainers and download the latest version of the training materials.
It can take up to four weeks to complete these steps and receive your trainer number.
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There may be local arrangements in place, if you're working with an integrated care board please ask your Oliver McGowan contact.
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If you can no longer attend, please email us at nasommttraining@nas.org.uk as we may be able to offer a reserve space to another applicant. Please tell us as soon as possible.
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Autistic people and people with a learning disability have been involved in The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism since it started in 2020. People with lived experience were involved in developing the training materials used when trialling the course, in delivering the course and in the evaluation. They were also involved in the development of the train the trainer materials in 2022, and in the delivery of the initial four-day lead trainer training between January and May 2023.Within this phase of the project, autistic people and people with a learning disability are involved in all aspects of quality assurance and delivery. There is a steering group which is led by people with lived experience, as well as an application approval group and a trainer approval group which consist of trainers with and without lived experience. The training is co-delivered by co-trainers with lived experience.
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The National Autistic Society (NAS) and the Estia Centre have formed a partnership for this project. The National Autistic Society Training and Consultancy team will be delivering the autism content of the course, and trainers from the Estia Centre will be delivering the learning disability content.