Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism, named after a teenager who died in 2016 after having severe reaction to medication given to him against family's wishes, aims to ensure staff have the right skills to provide care and boost understanding of the needs of these groups of people.

It sets out the standards that providers are expected to meet to be compliant with the law and help ensure patients are kept safe.

Under the law, health and care providers registered by the Care Quality Commission have a requirement to ensure staff have the appropriate training.

Minister of state for care, Stephen Kinnock, said: ‘This government recognises the appalling health inequalities faced by people with a learning disability and autistic people.

‘Everyone deserves to receive high-quality, empathetic and dignified care but this cannot be achieved if staff do not have the right training. The Oliver McGowan Code of Practice published today will be a boost for anyone with a learning disability or autistic people, their families and loved ones.'

Tom Cahill, national director of learning disability and autism NHS England, said: ‘We know that often the quality of care and support for people with a learning disability and autistic people has not been good enough and we are determined to make this better.

‘This code of practice will mean all NHS staff have the training and support they need to reduce inequalities and give people with a learning disability or autistic people the care they deserve.'

Rebecca Bushell-Bauers, Care Quality Commission director for people with a learning disability and autistic people, said: ‘The code of practice will further support us in assessing and inspecting whether health and social care providers are training their carers and staff to support autistic people and people with a learning disability appropriately and hold them to account to ensure they are delivering good, informed and safe care.'

The training will be backed by funding as part of the Learning and Development Support Scheme for adult social care in Autumn 2025.

Any adult social care providers who arrange for training for their staff between April 2025 and March 2026 will be reimbursed for the costs.