From 1st July 2022, all health and social care providers registered with CQC supporting this client group must ensure that their staff receive training in how to interact appropriately with people with a learning disability or autistic people, at a level appropriate to their role.
The government is required to consult on and publish a Code of Practice. It is understood that this will outline the content, delivery and ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training, which is training it has developed and trialled. The government suggests the publication of the Code of Practice may take at least 12 months.
As mentioned in CQC’s message from the 20th June, CQC will provide statutory guidance while the Code of Practice is being developed. CQC have now updated the statutory guidance for Regulation 18 on its website to reflect this requirement.
During CQC’s assessments and inspections of providers, they regularly look to see if staff are working with people appropriately, and if not, CQC consider what training and support has been provided to ensure their understanding. Following the introduction of this requirement on the 1st July, CQC will be checking whether providers are training their staff in how to interact appropriately with people with a learning disability and autistic people, at a level appropriate to their role. CQC will also look at whether providers have assessed the competencies of their staff following the training. In line with the current inspection procedures, CQC will not be looking at what the training itself has involved.
CQC will continue to engage with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on this training requirement.