Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training: Funding Deadlines, Quality Assurance and What It Means for Adult Social Care Employers

If your organisation works in health or adult social care, you will likely already be familiar with The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism. The training was introduced to improve the understanding, confidence and skills of professionals supporting those with learning disabilities and autistic people across the UK.

Recent updates from Skills for Care and the Department of Health and Social Care highlight important changes around quality assurance and funding for Oliver McGowan Training. These updates are particularly relevant for adult social care providers planning training in 2026.

At Train Direct, we are proud to be an approved provider of Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training, helping organisations deliver high-quality, compliant training to their workforce.

In this article we explain:

• What the Quality Assured Care Learning Service (QACLS) is

• How Oliver McGowan Training is being quality assured

• What employers need to know about funding through the Learning and Development Support Scheme

• The deadline for funding claims in 2026

What Is Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training?

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism was developed to ensure health and social care staff have the knowledge and skills to provide safe, compassionate and appropriate care for people with learning disabilities and autistic people.

The training was named in memory of Oliver McGowan, whose death highlighted the need for improved understanding and training across the health and care system.

The programme aims to:

• Improve awareness of learning disabilities and autism

• Reduce health inequalities

• Strengthen communication and person-centred care

• Ensure staff across health and social care understand reasonable adjustments and individual needs

Training is delivered at different levels depending on staff roles, including Tier 1 and Tier 2 Oliver McGowan Training.

Quality Assurance for Oliver McGowan Training

In October 2024, Skills for Care launched the Quality Assured Care Learning Service (QACLS).

The purpose of this service is to review the quality of training courses and qualifications delivered by training providers across adult social care. This includes Oliver McGowan Training.

The quality framework has been co-produced with experts by lived experience, ensuring the voices of people with learning disabilities and autistic people are embedded in the standards expected of training providers.

The QACLS aims to ensure that training:

• Meets the needs of the adult social care workforce

• Supports people who use care services

• Is accessible, relevant and high quality

• Is delivered by trusted training providers

For employers commissioning Oliver McGowan Training, this means there will increasingly be a recognised list of quality-assured providers who can demonstrate they meet the required national standards.

At Train Direct, we welcome this approach as it supports consistent, high-quality training across the sector.

Funding for Oliver McGowan Training

Funding for Oliver McGowan Training is currently available through the Learning and Development Support Scheme. This funding is designed to help adult social care employers train their workforce without carrying the full financial cost.

However, employers should be aware of some important points:

Funding Is Limited

The total funding available is restricted and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

This means:

• Claims are processed in the order they are received

• Employers will not be reimbursed once the fund has been exhausted

  
  

Funding Claim Deadline

All claims for Oliver McGowan Training must be submitted by:

23:59 on 20 March 2026

Employers planning training should ensure they submit claims before the deadline and before funding runs out.

How Employers Can Claim Funding

To access funding, adult social care employers must have an account with the:

Adult Social Care Workforce Dataset (ASC‑WDS)

Funding claims are processed through the NHS Business Services Authority, which operates the online claims service.

To avoid delays or rejected claims, employers should ensure they submit complete and accurate documentation.

Common Reasons Funding Claims Are Delayed

The NHS Business Services Authority has identified several common issues that can cause funding claims to be delayed or rejected.

Use the Correct Training Certificate

The certificate of completion must:

• Be issued using the official NHS England certificate template

• Include the name of the approved trainer

• Include the trainer number

This information is required to verify that the training was delivered by an approved Oliver McGowan trainer.

Ensure Invoices Include All Required Information

Employers must provide documentation showing:

• Proof of payment

• The organisation that made the payment

• The organisation that received the payment

• The name of the training course

• The amount paid

• The cost per learner (if multiple learners attended)

• A valid VAT number (if applicable)

• The date of payment

Ensuring invoices contain this information will help ensure claims are processed smoothly.

Why Oliver McGowan Training Matters

High-quality training plays a crucial role in improving outcomes for people with learning disabilities and autistic people.

By ensuring staff have the knowledge and confidence to deliver inclusive and person-centred care, Oliver McGowan Training helps to:

• Improve patient and service user experiences

• Reduce avoidable harm and health inequalities

• Support better communication and understanding

• Strengthen professional confidence across the workforce

Book Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training with Train Direct

At Train Direct, we deliver approved Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training to organisations across the health and social care sector.

Our training includes:

• Tier 1 Oliver McGowan Training

• Tier 2 Oliver McGowan Training

• Delivery for adult social care providers, NHS organisations and charities

• Experienced approved trainers

• Guidance on accessing available funding

If your organisation needs to deliver Oliver McGowan Training before the March 2026 funding deadline, we can help you plan and deliver training efficiently.

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism Tier 1 - From £39.00 per person | £349.00 for a group of up to 30 - click here for more info

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism Tier 2 - From £89.00 per person | £1499.00 for a group of up to 30 - click here for more info

If you would like tailored advice or want to book health and social care training for your organisation, then visit www.traindirect.co.uk to learn more or contact our team to discuss your training requirements.

tel. 0330 223 5586,

email. info@traindirect.co.uk

or complete the form on our homepage to request a call back.