First Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disabilities and Autism sessions rolled out at BNU

In February, 14 colleagues from Buckinghamshire New University’s (BNU) School of Nursing and Midwifery received the first sessions of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disabilities and Autism (OMMT).

Receipt of the OMMT for BNU staff is the first stage in the plan to deliver it to students on health and care courses across the University, who will be uniquely prepared to join their profession with an enhanced understanding of supporting people with learning disabilities and autism.

The training is named after Oliver McGowan, whose death shone a light on the need for health and social care staff to have better training. The Health and Care Act 2022 introduced a statutory requirement that regulated service providers must ensure their staff receive learning disability and autism training appropriate to their role. BNU is taking it one step further by ensuring students receive the training before reaching qualification. 

The package is designed to raise awareness and understanding, with a unique element in that the training is co-produced and co-delivered by those with lived experience of autism and learning disabilities. 

Over three days, BNU colleagues received training from co-trainers from charity ‘My Life My Choice’, based in Oxford, a self-advocacy organisation supporting people with a Learning Disability to have choice and to be treated without prejudice.

Colleagues from BNU said:

“I gained a very good insight into the experiences of learning disabilities and autism.”

“The co-trainers were engaging and inspirational.”

“[The co-trainers] were fantastic and helped us to develop our knowledge of effective support for people with learning disabilities and autism.”

BNU’s School of Nursing and Midwifery has a track record for high quality training, and for nurturing and empowering future leaders in health and social care. Find out more about the School here.