Is Oliver McGowan Training Mandatory?
Care Quality Commission registered health and social care providers in England must ensurethat staff receive learning disability and autism training appropriate to the role. The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training is the government’s preferred and recommended training package for supporting providers to meet this requirement.
Book Oliver McGowan Tier 2 Training
Contact ACI Training & Consultancy to discuss your organisation's requirements or a private course.
What the Legal Requirement Means
The Health and Care Act 2022 introduced the statutory training requirement. The Oliver McGowan code of practice sets standards for Care Quality Commission registered providers, including expectations about training content and delivery. The code became final on 6 September 2025.
The requirement is role appropriate. It does not mean that every person must automatically complete Tier 2. Employers should decide whether Tier 1 or Tier 2 best aligns with the employee’s duties.
Who Does the Requirement Apply To?
The statutory requirement applies to health and social care providers registered with the Care Quality Commission in England. This can include services such as hospitals, GP practices, dental services, clinics, care homes, home care agencies, mental health services and community-based services where regulated activities are provided.
Is Oliver McGowan Training the Only Possible Training?
The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training is described by the government as its preferred and recommended training package for health and social care staff. Providers should use the code of practice and current regulatory guidance when confirming how they will meet their responsibilities.
What About Education, SEND and Other Sectors?
The statutory requirement described above is for Care Quality Commission registered health and social care providers in England. Other organisations may still find Oliver McGowan Training valuable where staff work directly with autistic people and people with a learning disability, provide personal care or support inclusion and accessibility.
Non-healthcare organisations should describe the training as relevant or beneficial where appropriate. They should not assume that the health and social care statutory requirement applies to every employee or setting.
Practical Steps for Employers
- Identify whether the organisation delivers Care Quality Commission regulated services.
- Map roles according to direct contact, care, support, assessment and treatment responsibilities.
- Select Tier 1 or Tier 2 based on the requirements of each role.
- Ensure e-learning is completed before the relevant part-two training.
- Keep evidence of completion, attendance and the selected training route.
- Review renewal and refresher arrangements as national guidance develops.
Renewal and Refresher Training
The suggested renewal period is currently every three years. Further guidance is expected from NHS England. Employers should therefore monitor current guidance and keep their training matrix under review rather than treating the renewal period as permanently fixed.
Common Questions
Is Tier 2 mandatory for every care worker?
Tier 2 is intended for people who provide direct care or support. Employers should confirm the appropriate tier through a role-based assessment.
Is the training mandatory for dental practices?
The statutory requirement applies where the provider is registered with the Care Quality Commission to deliver regulated health or social care activities. The training selected for individual staff should be appropriate to their role.
Is Oliver McGowan Training mandatory in schools?
The statutory requirement discussed on this page applies to Care Quality Commission registered health and social care providers in England. A school or SEND setting may choose the training where it is relevant, but should not assume the same statutory position applies.
Is this legal advice?
No. Organisations should refer to current government, NHS England and regulatory guidance when confirming their legal and compliance responsibilities.
Talk to ACI About Oliver McGowan Training
ACI is an approved provider of Oliver McGowan Tier 2 Training and can support organisations with open course places, private delivery and multi-site rollout planning.
- Find out more about Oliver McGowan Tier 2 Training
- Book an individual place on a scheduled open course.
Click here to view upcoming open courses. - Arrange private Tier 2 training for your organisation.
Contact us to enquire and book. - Discuss a phased rollout for several teams or locations.
Contact us to enquire and book. - Ask for guidance on the most appropriate training route for your workforce.
Contact our Training team to discuss your needs.
Related Oliver McGowan Resources
Who Needs Oliver McGowan Training?
Find out which roles may require Tier 1 or Tier 2 training and how employers can allocate training appropriately.
Oliver McGowan Tier 1 vs Tier 2
- Understand the key differences between the two training pathways and which is appropriate for different roles.
Employer Responsibilities
- Guidance for managers, compliance leads and training coordinators planning workforce rollout.
Training for Care Providers
- Specific guidance for care homes, supported living, domiciliary care and community care services.
Training for GP, Dental and Private Healthcare Teams
- Information tailored to patient-facing healthcare settings.
Training for Education and SEND Settings
- Guidance for specialist education environments supporting autistic people and people with a learning disability.
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Related Oliver McGowan Resources
- Oliver McGowan Tier 2 Training
- Who Needs Oliver McGowan Training?
- Oliver McGowan Tier 1 vs Tier 2
- Is Oliver McGowan Training Mandatory?
- Employer Responsibilities
- Training for Care Providers
- Training for GP, Dental and Private Healthcare Teams
- Training for Education and SEND Settings
- Book on an Oliver McGowan Tier 2 Course
Our Training Services
- ACI Care Training Academy
- Course Directory
- Distance Learning
- Face to Face Training
- Mental Health First Aid
- Nurse Participatory Training
- Online Training
- Paediatric First Aid Level 3
- Practical Training Sessions
- Oliver McGowan Training Tier 2
- All Wales NHS Manual Handling Passport
- All Wales NHS Violence and Aggression Passport
- Training Courses for Compliance Staff
- Care Home & Domiciliary Care Training
- Train The Trainer
- Upcoming Courses
Frequently Asked Questions About Oliver McGowan Tier 2 Training
What is The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training Tier 2 and who is it for?
Tier 2 is the face-to-face, one‑day part of The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training designed for staff who provide direct care or support to autistic people or people with a learning disability; ACI Training & Consultancy delivers this training with experts by lived experience alongside subject specialists to make the learning practical and impactful.
Do I still need the e‑learning if I’m booking Tier 2 with ACI?
Yes - everyone must complete the official e‑learning (part 1) before attending the Tier 2 face‑to‑face session; ACI supports you to plan cohorts and delivery so staff complete the required sequence and you can evidence compliance.
How does ACI deliver Tier 2 training across different sites or teams?
We can deliver in person at your location anywhere in the UK, or place individuals onto scheduled open courses, minimising service disruption while keeping the standardised Tier 2 format.
How does this training help with CQC and the Oliver McGowan code of practice?
The government’s code of practice confirms CQC‑registered providers must ensure staff receive learning disability and autism training appropriate to role; ACI gives you attendance records, learning outcomes and feedback summaries to evidence compliance and inspection readiness.
What makes ACI’s Tier 2 sessions effective for frontline staff?
They’re co‑delivered with trainers who have lived experience of both learning disability and autism, bringing real stories, communication strategies and reasonable‑adjustment examples that build confidence for everyday practice.
Can ACI help me decide who needs Tier 1 vs Tier 2?
Yes - Tier 1 is awareness for staff who need general understanding, while Tier 2 is for roles providing direct care; we’ll map roles, plan cohorts and schedule delivery so each person completes the right tier in the correct order.
What Our Customers Are Saying
ACI delivered our mandatory training on-site, and the team loved the hands-on approach. Everything was tailored to our policies, and the trainer was fantastic.
The face-to-face sessions were practical and engaging. Our staff left feeling confident and fully compliant. Highly recommend ACI for in-person training.
Booking was easy, and the training was delivered exactly when we needed it. Certificates were issued promptly, which helped with our CQC audit.
We needed paediatric first aid for our Early Years team, and ACI made it stress-free. The trainer was knowledgeable and approachable—great experience!
Our dental practice team really valued the medical emergencies training. It was clear, practical, and CPD-accredited. We’ll definitely book again.
