Learning Disabilities and Autism Core Capabilities
Many autistic people or those with learning disabilities at one time, or another, face a battle to get the right information, support and care. In 2019 Health Education England and NHS England published the ‘Core Capabilities’ framework for supporting these people. These frameworks describe what is required for supporting those with learning disabilities and/or autistic people in a range of settings, from those who need a basic understanding of autism/learning disabilities, to the skills, knowledge and behaviours required of those who are experts and lead services for autistic people and/or those with learning disabilities.
Framework for supporting Autistic people
The framework describes capabilities i.e. the attributes (skills, knowledge and behaviours) which people bring to their work. It is comprised of 19 capabilities, which are grouped into 5 domains. Within the capabilities, there are 3 tiers, each for a particular ‘target audience’.
The Framework should be of particular value to:
- Managers in organisations/individual employers
- Service commissioners
- Education and training providers
The 5 Domains:
| Domain A – Understanding Autism | This part is about what autism is and how it affects autistic people. It also contains information people need to know if their job is to tell if people are autistic. |
| Domain B – Personalised Support | This part is about how to support and care autistic people properly and is the most important part for care professionals and support workers. |
| Domain C – Physical and Mental Health | This part is about autistic people’s health needs. It is the most important part for doctors and other people whose jobs are to do with health. |
| Domain D – Risk, Legislation and Safeguarding | This part is about the law and autistic people’s human rights. |
| Domain E – Leadership and Management, Education and Research | This part is for people who run organisations that autistic people use, people who run training about autism and people who do research about autism. |
Scope of the framework
Not everyone will need to know everything within the 5 domains but any team or service should cover them all which is why he capabilities described in the framework are defined at 3 tiers:
- Tier 1 – People who require a general understanding of autism and the support autistic people may need.
- Tier 2 – People with responsibility for providing care and support for an autistic person or people, but who could seek support from others for complex management or complex decision-making.
- Tier 3 – Health, social care and other professionals with a high degree of autonomy, able to provide care and support in complex situations and/or may also lead services for autistic people.
» Click here for the full framework
» Click here for an easy read of the framework
Framework for supporting people with Learning Disabilities
The framework describes capabilities i.e. the attributes (skills, knowledge and behaviours) which people bring to their work. It is comprised of 25 capabilities, which are grouped into 5 domains. Within the capabilities, there are 3 tiers, each for a particular ‘target audience’.
The Framework should be of particular value to:
- Managers in organisations/individual employers
- Service commissioners
- Education and training providers
The 5 Domains:
| Domain A – Understanding Learning Disability | This part is about what learning disabilities are and how they affect people with learning disabilities. It also includes information staff need to know if their job is to see if people have a learning disability. |
| Domain B – Health and Wellbeing | This part is about the health needs of people with learning disabilities. It is the most important part for doctors and other staff whose jobs are to do with health. |
| Domain C – Personalised Care and Support | This part is about making sure people with learning disabilities get good care and the support they need. It is the most important part for care staff and support workers. |
| Domain D – Risk, Legislation and Safeguarding | This part is about the law and the human rights of people with learning disabilities. |
| Domain E – Leadership and Management, Education and Research | This part is for people who run organisations that people with learning disabilities use, people who run training about learning disabilities, and people who do research about learning disabilities. |
Scope of the framework
Not everyone will need to know everything within the 5 domains but any team or service should cover them all which is why he capabilities described in the framework are defined at 3 tiers:
- Tier 1 – People who require a general understanding of autism and the support autistic people may need.
- Tier 2 – People with responsibility for providing care and support for an autistic person or people, but who could seek support from others for complex management or complex decision-making.
- Tier 3 – Health, social care and other professionals with a high degree of autonomy, able to provide care and support in complex situations and/or may also lead services for autistic people.
» Click here for the full framework
» Click here for an easy read of the framework
Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training
The aim of the Oliver McGowan mandatory training is to ensure that staff working in health and social care receive learning disability and autism training, at the right level for their role. They will have a better understanding of people’s needs, resulting in better services and improved health and wellbeing outcomes.
This training is named after Oliver McGowan, whose death highlighted the need for health and social care staff to have better training in learning disabilities and autism.
» Click here to find out more
» Click here to watch the video of Oliver’s story
Skills for Care Workforce update
Keep up to date with the latest news, resources, events and funding opportunities from Skills for Care, specifically for adult social care services that support people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.