This page contains information for anyone who wishes to become a trainer and gain access to the Tier 1 Trainer Training, which has been fully funded by NHSE for 2025.

On this page...

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism is standardised and to complete it individuals must:

Complete the elearning package – everyone will need to do the elearning no matter where they work and what tier they need to complete.

  • Tier 1 – the 1 hour online interactive session co-delivered by a person with a learning disability and an autistic person along with a facilitator or
  • Tier 2 – the 1 day face to face training co-delivered a person with a learning disability and an autistic person and trainer

For the avoidance of doubt, staff needing Tier 2 training do not need to complete Tier 1 training first. Tier 2 training contains the Tier 1 material required.

The government is developing the Oliver McGowan Code of Practice to set training standards. A consultation has closed, and feedback is being reviewed. For updates, visit Oliver McGowan draft code of practice – GOV.UK.

We are currently running fully funded training for people who want to be Tier 1 Trainers and can deliver training into the health & care workforce.

You do not need to be based in Gloucestershire to access the Tier 1 Trainer Training.

To access this training, you need to be in a trio with:

  1. A facilitating trainer who will organise and support the trio
  2. An expert co-trainer trainer with lived experience of a learning disability
  3. An expert co-trainer trainer with lived experience of autism

There are 2 courses which are 3-hours long with 2 breaks, and are held on Microsoft Teams.

Courses take place every month over Microsoft Teams in the morning or afternoon:

  • Mornings: 9.30 am – 12.30 pm
  • Afternoons: 12.30 pm – 3.30 pm

I am a new Tier 1 trainer, and want to learn how to run the 1-hour interactive webinars that form part 2 of the Tier 1 training.

You will need to attend the Delivering Webinars Tier 1 Trainer Training (course number 1 for new trainers)

You will learn how to run webinars yourself.

  • At the end of this course you will be an approved Tier 1 Trainer.
  • You will be able to run the 1-hour webinars in a trio
  • To pass the course, you will record your trio running a webinar and send it to us so that we can give you advice about being a trainer.

Delivering Webinars training dates 2025 for new trios

  • 13/02/2025 (am)
  • 04/03/2025 (am)
  • 12/03/2025 (pm)
  • 02/04/2025 (pm)
  • 29/04/2025 (am)
  • 01/05/2025 (am)
  • 06/06/2025 (pm)
  • 19/06/2025 (am)
  • 07/07/2025 (am)
  • 02/09/2025 (pm)
  • 10/09/2025 (pm)

How to apply

To apply for a place on the waiting list, please make sure that:

  1. You have seen the preparation pack accessed here
  2. You have all completed the part 1 90 mins eLearning package which can be accessed on eLearning for Healthcare (eLfH) HERE
  3. You have met with your trio to discuss any support needs, reasonable adjustments, and upskilling needed to attend and deliver training virtually.
  4. Your Facilitating Trainer is confident to build webinars and associated learning activities within MSTeams, and to deliver training virtually.

You can apply via this link.

I have already done the first Tier 1 course, (Delivering Webinars) and am an approved Tier 1 trainer.

I want to apply for the second Tier 1 course that teaches you how to train other people to become trios and run the webinars

This is called: Teaching Others Tier 1 Trainer Training

To access this training, you need to be in a trio with:

  • A facilitating trainer who will organise and support the trio
  • An expert co-trainer trainer with lived experience of a learning disability
  • An expert co-trainer trainer with lived experience of autism

You must be on the NHSE list as an approved Tier 1 Trainer to access this second course, as it is all about teaching others in a train-the-trainer model.

You must have experience of delivering the 1-hour webinars.

Teaching Others Tier 1 Trainer Training dates 2025

  • 21/03/2025 (am)
  • 21/05/2025 (pm)
  • 18/07/2025 (am)
  • 11/08/2025 (am)
  • 16/09/2025 (am)

Become a LEAD Tier 1 Trainer.

This course will help you to learn how to run both Tier 1 Trainer Training courses (Delivering Webinars Tier 1 Trainer Training AND Teaching Others Tier 1 Trainer Training) so that you can continue to build a team of new trainers, and cascade the training.

This course is for approved Tier 1 trainers only who have already completed the Delivering Webinars Tier 1 Trainer Training course as a trio, and have experience of running the 1-hour interactive webinar.

  • At the end of this course you will be an approved LEAD Tier 1 Trainer.
  • You will be able to run the 1-hour webinars in a trio
  • You will be able to run the Delivering Webinars Tier 1 Trainer Training for new trios
  • You will quality assurance your own delegates and recommend them to NHS England as approved Tier 1 trainers.
  • You will be able to run the Teaching Others Tier 1 Trainer Training to other approved trios
  • You will quality assurance your learners and recommend them as LEAD Tier 1 trainers to NHS England

To pass the course, you will watch a recorded webinar in your trio, and send structured feedback to us so that we can give you advice about being a reviewer and managing new learners.

How to apply

To apply for a place on the waiting list, please make sure that:

  1. You (and your trio members) have a trainer number for Tier 1 on the NHS England database found here
  2. You can attend in your trio
  3. You have experience of running the 1-hour webinars
  4. You have fully read the Facilitators Manual in the Star Pack and understood the delivery model & responsibilities.

You can apply via this link.

There are 3 different courses for Tier 2 trainers.

LEAD trainer training ( 4 days)

To become a Lead T2 trainer Training (someone who can lead & deliver ALL the Tier 2 courses) you need to attend a 4-day course. Please contact nasommttraining@nas.org.uk.

Facilitating Trainer Training ( 2 days)

To become a Tier 2 Facilitating Trainer, you need to attend a 2-day course.

NHS England holds a list of approved training providers which can be found here:

Training Providers and Approved Trainers | NHS England | Workforce, training and education (hee.nhs.uk)

Expert Trainer Training (3 days)

To become a Tier 2 expert co-trainer with lived experience of autism or a learning disability, you need to do a 3-day course.

NHS England holds a list of approved training providers which can be found here:

Training Providers and Approved Trainers | NHS England | Workforce, training and education (hee.nhs.uk)