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Is Oliver McGowan training just too expensive for many employers?

Published on August 28th, 2024

Can we talk about the cost of Oliver McGowan Training?

We have been providing a series of free ‘Discovery calls’ with clients of various sizes since the start of 2024, covering all aspects of the new Workforce Pathways. One topic which is frequently raised is the requirement for all CQC registered providers to ensure staff receive appropriate training in both Learning Disability and Autism, as per the Health and Care Act 2022. Oliver McGowan Training (OMG) is clearly the preferred pathway, but organisations are free to develop their own in-house variant, so long as they can demonstrate it aligns with the legal requirements.

Now, whilst nobody would argue with the sentiment behind this training, we’ve been surprised at the potential cost some employers face in trying to provide access to OMG training at Tier 1 and 2. Some of the financial projections run into serious six-figure sums, which most employers simply do not have available within their already stretched budgets. We’re sure the majority of organisations want to comply – but the potential cost!

We’re also hearing that although OMG is a legal requirement, it’s not yet embedded into local authority contracts and CQC is not yet on top of this. It feels like it’s a potential thorny issue floating on the horizon for many.

We would be interested to hear any comments or experiences from other employers or individuals who have faced similar (or different) challenges in dealing with this particular matter. Existing clients can contact us through the usual channels or feel free to contact Steve Helsby directly via LinkedIn.