Better together. How the Estia Centre and National Autistic Society partnership is paving the way for gold standard delivery of Oliver’s lead trainer training | Our Blog

Authors: Mike Bloodworth, Niki Daniel and Trevor Wright  

G enuine progress is forged through collaboration, not isolation . It is ultimately brought about by bringing together diverse expertise and experience to create something intrinsically stronger, more creative, and innovative than what we could ever achieve alone .  

The Power of Collaboration  

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism aims to save and improve lives by ensuring the health and social care workforce have the right skills and knowledge to provide safe, compassionate and informed care to autistic people and people with a learning disability . However, real transformative change arises when passionate people unite with a shared purpose, and it is this conviction which is at the heart of our partnership at the Estia Centre and the National Autistic Society . W e firmly believe that by combining our expertise , values, and vision, we are not just delivering training; we're building a movement grounded in compassion, shaped by lived experience, and driven by a relentless commitment to raising standards. This shared vision has culminated in a strategic alliance we are incredibly proud of. This isn't just another partnership; it's a  deliberate fusion of specialist knowledge, innovative methodologies, and unparalleled experience .   

National Leaders in Oliver’s Training  

As the  exclusive NHS England contracted provider  for the past three years, we are th e national leaders for development and delivery of the Tier 2 of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism . In this time, we have  

• Delivered training to over 200 participants a cross England   

• Led on the review and update all the tier 2 training content and materials (which included lead trainer training, facilitator trainer training, co-trainer training for learning disability co-trainers, co-trainer training for autistic co-trainers, one-day (mandatory training) to ensure that it is easier to understand, more engaging and remains relevant and up to date.  

• Introduced and established a Community of Practice for lead trainers  

• Developed and introduced quality assurance processes for lead trainer training   

What is Lead Trainer Training ?  

Tier 2 lead trainers can deliver the one-day mandatory training on learning disability and autism and train other people to deliver it . It is a unique role in that the focus can be on building capacity to deliver Oliver’s training within organisation s . The Estia Centre and National Autistic Society are one of the only organisations who can train lead trainers and our approved trainers are called ‘associate trainers' .  

Our Gold Standard for Training Delivery  

We understand that the effectiveness of lead trainer training hinges on the competence and confidence of those delivering it to equip facilitating trainers and co- trainers with the skills to facilitate engaging and impactful sessions, to promote critical reflection, and champion the values that underpin the Oliver’s Training .   Together, we aren't simply developing and delivering a train the trainer programme ; we have crafted with experts with lived experience the  gold standard in Oliver’s lead trainer training , equipping and empower ing lead trainers with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make a tangible difference in health and social care sector.    

Our Tier 2 Lead Trainer programme is built upon a 5-point gold standard  framework, meticulously developed and refined through our partnership with NHS England.   

1. Co-delivered and co-produced
2. Expert-led
3. Quality assured
4. Highly experienced facilitation skills
5. Supported and developed  

1. Co-delivered and co-produced  

Our approach involves individuals with lived experience of learning disability and autism in both the development and delivery of the training . We have led on a national review and update of all the tier 2 training content and materials and developed new quality assurance processes in true partnership with experts with lived experience of learning disability and autism. In this way we have ensured the training content remains authentic, relevant, and impactful, reflecting real-world perspectives of those with lived experience. We champion the crucial importance of delivering all aspects of Oliver’s Training as true equal partners with experts with lived experience and ensure all-co-trainers are respectfully remunerated for all their work .    

2. Expert-led  

All our training is designed and delivered by leading subject matter experts in learning disability and autism who are also highly experienced educators in the health and social care . Our lived experience co facilitators have a wealth of personal experience of health, housing and social care systems, some also as paid professionals, and can offer guidance on what simple adjustments can work in practice arming participants with evidence-based examples of positive practice to counter any professional ‘can’t be done’ negativity during actual delivery . Course participants therefore can be assured that they receive accurate , up-to-date, and evidence-based content from specialist market leaders , thereby equipping them with authoritative knowledge to confidently lead Oliver ’s Training .     

3. Quality assured  

We have co-produced with experts with lived expe r ience a n NHS Approved quality assurance process for the lead traine r c ourse . This process includes a pre-programme application procedure and post programme assessment of lead trainers’ knowledge, value s and skills. Every application and assessment submission is meticulously scrutinised and co-administered with experts with lived experience to ensure that lead trainers have the necessary knowledge and skills to deliver Oliver’s Training.  

4. Highly experienced facilitation skills  

We don't just teach content; we teach how to teach it effectively. Our offer not only provides comprehensive training in how to deliver facilitating trainer, co-trainer training and the mandatory on e-day training, but ensures participants are able to reflect on strategic and operational challenges in delivering training within the health and social care sectors . We ensure that any ‘tricky questions’ that may arise when trainers are delivering the content are discussed giving participants a safe space to talk through the issues and generate their own responses should such questions be raised in a ‘live’ setting. Course participants are therefore equipped with the skills to manage group dynamics, encourage participation, and create an engaging and impactful learning environment for their own trainees.    

5. Supported and Developed  

We recognise th e significant strategic an d operational challenges faced by organisation s to ensure all their workforce completed the one-day mandatory training, as well as the challenges faced by le a d trainers to ensure all of Oliver’s Training is routinely delivered to an excellent standard and that co-trainers are properly supported and developed in their roles. A four-day training course is therefore  somewhat limited in what it can achieve to support lead trainers in working through these challenges and we therefore recognise the importance of ongoing support and development of lead trainers to ensure Oliver’s Training is successful and delivered to the highest standard . Our lead trainer community of practice allows lead trainers to come together to share best practice and learn with and from each other as t hey work towards resolving the real challenges they face in implementing and rolling-out Oliver’s Training.  

Setting the Standard, Shaping the Future  

The partnership between the Estia Centre and the National Autistic Society have set a new gold standard for Oliver’s lead trainer training . By harnessing our unique specialisms, co-producing with lived experience, and rigorously quality assuring every aspect, we are genuinely better together, equipping your lead trainers with the unparalleled expertise to drive transformative change across your organisation.  

“ As an autistic trainer with an autistic daughter and former health and social care professional I value being able to put all of my personal and professional knowledge and experience into this project.   I think that we are not only teaching good practice but role modelling good practice, walking the walk so to speak, being evaluated on not just what we say but on what we do. Having been in many national and regional initiatives I know that what can be dressed as co production sometimes falls way short of what people with lived experience expect. I feel that here is a high level of meaningful involvement in the Estia: NAS partnership that leads on delivering this training that is not found in other training models and feel lucky to have been able to contribute from its inception" – Trevor Wright .  Tier 2 Lead Trainer and Autistic Co-Trainer  

As the established market leaders and the exclusive NHS England contracted provider, having successfully trained over 200 lead trainers across England, we invite you to join us in shaping the future of inclusive care. Investing in our Tier 2 Lead Trainer programme means investing in a workforce empowered to deliver safe, compassionate, and truly person-centred care. It means building internal capacity with confidence and ensuring that the vital lessons of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training resonate throughout your entire organisation. Let us partner with you to achieve exceptional outcomes and make a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve. Join us in this vital mission to cultivate a truly inclusive and compassionate care environment, where every professional is equipped to make a profound difference.  

Estia and NAS are committed to recruiting and retaining a cohort of lived experience co-trainers to develop and deliver this training. We ensure that best practice standards are met in the support, renumeration and training development of our lived experience trainers co-facilitators in all aspects of our work. Our autistic and learning disabled trainers contribute a range and depth of personal and professional experience as well as relaying powerful stories that enable course participants to identify what could work better in live health and social care situations and crucially, how best to make adjustments necessary to ensure that experiences such as Olivers and his family can be avoided.