FOI release

Compliance with the statutory learning disability and autism training requirements

Case reference FOI2026/02032

Received 26 May 2026

Published 11 September 2026

Request

We are seeking recorded information relating to your Trust’s compliance with the statutory learning disability and autism training requirements for health and social care staff, introduced under the Health and Care Act 2022 and associated regulations, including the implementation of the Oliver McGowan Code of Practice.

Please provide the following information for your Trust.

1. Training programme used

a) Please confirm whether the Trust uses:

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism; or

An alternative training programme intended to meet the statutory requirements.

b) If an alternative training programme is used, please provide:

The name and description of the training programme(s);

and

Any recorded rationale, policy, or assessment used to determine that the alternative programme satisfies the statutory requirement.

2. Workforce size

Please provide the total number of staff employed by the Trust (headcount), using your standard reporting methodology, for each of the last three completed reporting years; and please state the reporting period used (e.g. calendar year, financial year). This should include temporary/bank/agency/locum staff.

3. Training eligibility and compliance data

For each of the last three completed reporting years (using your standard annual training compliance reporting cycle and stating the reporting period used), please provide:

a) The total number of staff identified as requiring learning disability and autism training.

b) If training is delivered at different levels/tiers, for each level/tier:

The number of staff identified as requiring that level/tier;

The number of staff recorded as being compliant with that level/tier;

c) If training is only delivered at a single tier, please state number of staff recorded as being compliant with the training.

d) The equivalent figures specifically for Psychiatrists and trainee Psychiatrists.

4. Definitions and methodology

Please provide definitions and methods used to compile the figures above, including:

a) Your definition of “compliant” for reporting purposes, including whether this requires completion of all required components of the relevant training.

b) Any internal guidance, policy, criteria, or role-mapping used to determine:

Which staff are required to undertake the training;

and

Which staff are required to complete different levels/tiers (if applicable).

5. Governance, reporting and audit

Please provide copies of any recorded reports, audits, dashboards, committee papers, board reports, or submissions to external regulators from the last three completed reporting years related to monitoring, auditing, or reporting compliance with these training requirements.

Response

Please ensure follow the requested format requirements.

REQUEST: We are seeking recorded information relating to your Trust’s compliance with the statutory learning disability and autism training requirements for health and social care staff, introduced under the Health and Care Act 2022 and associated regulations, including the implementation of the Oliver McGowan Code of Practice.

Please provide the following information for your Trust.

1. Training programme used

a) Please confirm whether the Trust uses:

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism; or
An alternative training programme intended to meet the statutory requirements.
b) If an alternative training programme is used, please provide:

The name and description of the training programme(s);
and

Any recorded rationale, policy, or assessment used to determine that the alternative programme satisfies the statutory requirement.

 At the OUHFT we use the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism as per the government's recommended training for health and social care staff. The Trust's approach to roll out this training was approved at Trust Management Executive meeting on 3^rd August 2023. (paper attached).  This included a phased roll out of Part 1 and Part 2 training requirements.  

Part 1 e-learning for all staff.  Part 2 training is broken down into a 2-tier system: tier 1 webinars and tier 2 face to face workshops.  This training has been coordinated by the Buckinghamshire Health and Social Care Academy on behalf of the ICB (BOB and Frimley, now Thames Valley) and delivered by an external training company (UTS). 

2. Workforce size

Please provide the total number of staff employed by the Trust (headcount), using your standard reporting methodology, for each of the last three completed reporting years; and please state the reporting period used (e.g. calendar year, financial year). This should include temporary/bank/agency/locum staff.

31-Mar-24	Sum of Headcount
Add Prof Scientific and Technic	498
Additional Clinical Services	2407
Administrative and Clerical	3112
Allied Health Professionals	1047
Estates and Ancillary	282
Healthcare Scientists	635
Medical and Dental	2360
Nursing and Midwifery Registered	4776
Students	2
Grand Total	15119

31-Mar-25	Sum of Headcount
Add Prof Scientific and Technic	532
Additional Clinical Services	2444
Administrative and Clerical	2962
Allied Health Professionals	1053
Estates and Ancillary	304
Healthcare Scientists	651
Medical and Dental	2481
Nursing and Midwifery Registered	4850
Grand Total	15277

31-Mar-26	Sum of Headcount
Add Prof Scientific and Technic	517
Additional Clinical Services	2340
Administrative and Clerical	2900
Allied Health Professionals	1058
Estates and Ancillary	293
Healthcare Scientists	645
Medical and Dental	2472
Nursing and Midwifery Registered	4882
Grand Total	15107

3. Training eligibility and compliance data

For each of the last three completed reporting years (using your standard annual training compliance reporting cycle and stating the reporting period used), please provide:

a) The total number of staff identified as requiring learning disability and autism training.

A total of 17681 staff are required to complete the part 1 e-learning package, regardless of where they work and their role. Additional training numbers are broken down as in the table below.     

Course Name	Target Audience   (July 2026)
OUH Oliver McGowan - Learning Disability and Autism Part 1	17681
OUH Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training Part 2 Tier 1	4265
OUH Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training Part 2 Tier 2	13416

 
b) If training is delivered at different levels/tiers, for each level/tier:

The number of staff identified as requiring that level/tier;

For staff who are ‘non-patient facing’ in their role, they are required to complete the e-learning and a 1-hour interactive webinar.  

For staff who are ‘patient facing’ they need to complete the e-learning and a 1-day classroom-based workshop.  

Course Name 

Target Audience  

(MLH July 2026) 

OUH Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training Part 2 Tier 1 

4265 

OUH Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training Part 2 Tier 2 

13416 

The number of staff recorded as being compliant with that level/tier;

Part 1 and part 2 training overall compliance is outlined in the table below.   

Course Name	Target Audience (MLH July 2026)	Total completed	Left to train
OUH Oliver McGowan- Learning Disability and Autism Part 1	17681	13334	4347
OUH Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training Part 2 Tier 1	4265	574	3691
OUH Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training Part 2 Tier 2	13416	1578	11838

Some of staff may have completed this training in another Organisation and passported this across to our records.

c) If training is only delivered at a single tier, please state number of staff recorded as being compliant with the training.

 n/a

d) The equivalent figures specifically for Psychiatrists and trainee Psychiatrists.

 In July 2026 Part 1 training compliance was reported as 68% (13/19 staff in this category on our learning management system). No staff have yet completed part 2.

4. Definitions and methodology

Please provide definitions and methods used to compile the figures above, including:

a) Your definition of “compliant” for reporting purposes, including whether this requires completion of all required components of the relevant training.

  
Compliance percentages are monitored including the completion of Part 1 e-learning and either Tier 1 or 2 interactive sessions.  Compliance requires all staff to complete their e-learning and either the one-hour interactive webinar or 1 day classroom-based workshop. 

b) Any internal guidance, policy, criteria, or role-mapping used to determine:

Which staff are required to undertake the training;
and
Which staff are required to complete different levels/tiers (if applicable).

On our learning management system (LMS) training has been mapped as below

·         All staff are required to complete Part 1 e-learning as mandatory

·         Part 2 training has been mapped against different audiences for each tier.  In October 2025 phase 1 and 2 roll out started to targeted audience that were deemed high-priority areas. In April 2026 phase 3 roll out started, for all other staff.

This is now reflected on learning records on our Learning Management system, to enable staff to identify their training needs and book the appropriate course.  The number of staff broken down into different staff groups are outlined below (July 2026): 

*Staff Group*	*Total*
*Add Prof Scientific and Technic*	*660*
*Additional Clinical Services*	*2550*
*Administrative and Clerical*	*3875*
*Allied Health Professionals*	*1121*
*Charge Nurse*	2
*Estates and Ancillary*	*277*
*Healthcare Scientists*	*705*
*Medical and Dental*	*3360*
*Nursing and Midwifery Registered*	*5070*
*Podiatrist*	7
*Students*	45
*Total*	17672

5. Governance, reporting and audit

Please provide copies of any recorded reports, audits, dashboards, committee papers, board reports, or submissions to external regulators from the last three completed reporting years related to monitoring, auditing, or reporting compliance with these training requirements.

 The following reports are provided and reflect ongoing reporting and monitoring of the implementation and roll out of Oliver McGowan Training across the Trust over the last 3 reporting years:

a.   23-24

17th May 2023 Briefing paper to Clinical Governance Committee

3rd August 2023 Briefing paper to Trust Management Executive

18th September 2023 Briefing paper to Nursing Midwifery and AHP Board 

 b. 24-25

10th March 2025 Report submitted to Nursing Midwifery and AHP Forum 

 c. 25-26

30^th January 2026 Report to Clinical Education and Training Committee

31^st March 2026 Report to Clinical Education and Training Committee

d. Training compliance is monitored through the Trusts Clinical Education Training Committee, chaired by the Chief Nursing Officer. 

e. Monthly training completion data for both Part 1 and part 2 training is submitted to the Thames Valley ICB and reported to NHS England.

Documents

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