Oliver McGowan Tier 1 vs Tier 2 Explained
Oliver McGowan Tier 1 and Tier 2 both build understanding of learning disability and autism, but they are designed for different roles. Tier 1 provides general awareness. Tier 2 provides deeper, practical learning for staff involved in direct care, support, assessment or treatment.
Book Oliver McGowan Tier 2 Training
Contact ACI Training & Consultancy to discuss your organisation's requirements or a private course.
The Two-Part Training Pathway
Both training tiers begin with e-learning. Part two then differs according to the tier: Tier 1 includes a live one-hour online interactive session, while Tier 2 includes a one-day face-to-face session. Training includes delivery by people with lived experience of a learning disability or being autistic.
Area
Tier 1
Tier 2
When Tier 1 Is Appropriate
Tier 1 may be suitable when a person needs to understand learning disability and autism but does not provide direct care, support, assessment or treatment. It gives staff a shared awareness that can improve communication, inclusion and the overall experience of people using a service.
When Tier 2 Is Appropriate
Tier 2 is suitable where a person’s responsibilities require them to apply their understanding in practice. This includes identifying reasonable adjustments, adapting communication, recognising factors that can contribute to health inequalities and avoiding assumptions that could affect care or support.
- Patient-facing clinical roles
- Care and support roles
- Assessment and treatment roles
- Community health and mental health roles
- Complex care and supported living roles
- Other direct-contact roles identified by the employer
Avoiding Common Training Allocation Mistakes
- Do not assume every employee needs Tier 2 simply because they work for a regulated provider.
- Do not limit Tier 2 only to registered clinicians if other staff provide direct care or support.
- Do not treat completion of e-learning alone as the whole Tier 2 pathway.
- Do not assign a tier solely by job title. Consider actual duties, contact and responsibility.
- Record the reason for the selected tier within the organisation’s training process.
Planning Delivery Across a Workforce
Many organisations have a mixture of Tier 1 and Tier 2 roles. A practical rollout starts by grouping employees according to their responsibilities, completing the e-learning and then arranging the relevant interactive or face-to-face element.
ACI can provide open Tier 2 course places for individuals and private delivery for larger teams. Private delivery can be phased across locations to reduce disruption and create a consistent learning experience.
Common Questions
Is Tier 2 a higher qualification than Tier 1?
The tiers reflect different role requirements rather than a simple progression. Tier 2 provides deeper practical learning because it is intended for staff with direct care, support, assessment or treatment responsibilities.
Can someone complete Tier 2 without the e-learning?
The e-learning is part one of both tiers and should be completed before the Tier 2 face-to-face session.
How long is Tier 2?
Tier 2 part two is delivered as a one-day, face-to-face training session.
Can one organisation need both tiers?
Yes. Different employees may need different tiers according to their role and responsibilities.
Talk to ACI About Oliver McGowan Training
ACI can help your organisation plan Tier 2 delivery alongside the required e-learning, with scheduled open courses and private organisational sessions available.
- 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.
Is Oliver McGowan Training Mandatory?
- Learn more about current requirements, employer responsibilities and role-appropriate training.
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.
.jpg)
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.
