Meet Our Team of Experts With Lived Experience

We had such a wonderful time in December 2023 at our Group Supervision, for our Experts With Lived Experience.

We did some fun activities, complete with prizes - who doesn’t love Christmas socks! We enjoyed a Christmas catch up, before our much-needed Christmas break, after a very busy year of training!

You can hear more about the journey of one of our expert’s further below, with Andy’s Ask the Expert feature…

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The Oliver Mcgowan training team

Julie Wilcockson

Hi, I’m Julie and I’m a Lead Trainer for the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training.  I have delivered training in social care for nearly 7 years and have supported young people and adults who are autistic and/or have a learning disability in a professional and personal role throughout a lot of my adult life.  I love the opportunity to work with our expert co-trainers as well as hearing about your experiences of good practice.

Maria Summers

Hi, my name is Maria and I’m a facilitating trainer. My background is learning disability nursing and I have worked in services for people with learning disabilities and Autistic people for many years.

I look forward to meeting you and supporting experts to deliver your training.

Andrew Blatchley

Hi, my name is Andy and I’m a co-trainer. I am Autistic and registered blind. I really enjoy my job as a co-trainer, and I do it so that other people can understand Autistic people like me!

Sinead Dunne

Hi, my name is Sinead and I’m an expert co- trainer. I have lived experience of a learning disability. I have great empathy and like to give my all to my job as a trainer so that the training really helps people. I love answering questions so please don’t be afraid to ask me!

I look forward to seeing you in a training session soon.

Adithi Kumar

Hi, my name is Adithi. I am a Co-trainer with lived experience of a learning disability. I became a Co-trainer to help Professionals understand the problems faced by people like me with learning disabilities.

When you ask questions please speak slowly and clearly and facing me as I have hearing difficulties. I will try my best to answer questions within the training session.

I am looking forward to meeting you and being part of your training experience.

Sarah Nicholls

Hello, my name is Sarah and I’m an autistic co-trainer.

I wanted to be a part of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory training because I love to research about autism, talk to others about autism, and bust all those myths that still exist about autism.

It would be helpful for me during the training if people can give me some time, as I cannot always answer questions right away, and I sometimes need time to formulate my thoughts and responses. It is also really helpful if, during breaks, I can have some time away from the training room, and a break from talking to people.

Kat Stapleton

Hi, my name is Kat and I’m an autistic co-trainer. I became a trainer to help you understand that YOU can make a difference to the quality of care and support that autistic people and people who have a learning disability receive. I’m happy to chat with you and answer your questions during the session, although I find it hard to focus when lots of people are talking at once. I look forward to sharing my lived experience with you!

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a word cloud to describe our thoughts on the training

During our Group Supervision we worked with our experts with lived experience to create a word cloud of how we all felt about delivering the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training. Some really wonderful feedback from our team.

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Ask the Expert?

My name is Andy. I’m Autistic and visually impaired but firstly, I’d like to tell you all a little bit about Oliver McGowan before I tell you about me!

Oliver was 18 years old when he died in hospital. He had a mild learning disability and was Autistic. He led a full and active life – was due to become a Paralympian and attended the National Star college in Cheltenham which is the college that I attended in 2006-2007. Oliver and his Mum were not listened to by hospital staff, and he was given medication that he shouldn’t have had, which led to his death. Olivers Mum campaigned for mandatory training in Autism and learning disabilities for health and social care staff.

1. Tell us about your connection to Coventry Training Consortium and your new role.

I attend Kingshill nursery and had met Maria and Julie when they delivered Health and safety training to co-workers here at Kingshill. They approached me and asked if I would like to consider becoming a trainer with lived experience of Autism. I was really excited about this opportunity and was given 3 days training in how to deliver it, including writing my own script.

2. What have you learnt since becoming a trainer?

I have learned how to deliver information clearly and concisely, how to break things down into bite size chunks and that healthcare professionals especially need more knowledge and awareness of learning disabilities and Autism.

3. How has your life changed since you became part of Coventry Training Consortium?

 This is my first paid job so I’m really happy about that! I am more independent, and I received travel training to enable me to use public transport to travel to CTC, which I do regularly. I think I am more confident and patient and have more understanding of learning disability and other peoples experience of Autism, not just my own.  I feel that I am respected more now that I have this role.

4. What do you like most about Coventry Training Consortium?

Working with Julie, Sarah, Sinead, and Maria. They are very supportive and make reasonable adjustments for me. I have supervision to make sure I’m ok at work. They are a great team to work with.

 5. Have you had the opportunity to make new friends and try out new experiences?

 Being here is a new experience for me – I’ve never been to an AGM before! I have trained social care staff to educate them about Autism and I’ve also helped to train other Autistic experts to do the same job as me. I have met some great people and get to catch up with them when we have group supervision.

6. What do you want to achieve in the future?

I really want to have the opportunity to deliver this training to a wide range of professionals so that they can provide better care and support to Autistic people like me and to people with a learning disability. I hope that these people have better health outcomes and no one else experiences what Oliver did. I want to continue to develop my skills as a trainer as this is a really important job.

Oliver's Story - an animation

Those working hard behind the scenes on the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism have produced this wonderful, animated video explaining why the training is so important, and what it should achieve. Co-produced with autistic people, and people with a learning disability, this is a powerful way of learning more about what happened to Oliver, and why the training is essential for staff working in health and social care.

You can view the video here:- https://youtu.be/ouhKSOGm49g

Course Spaces Available - Safeguarding - this course has now been filled

Course Spaces Available - This course has now been filled

We currently have spaces on the course detailed below. If you would like to book a space on this course, please contact the trianing office on 024 76 4545 14 or email us on admin3@coventrytraining.org.uk

Safeguarding

Date: Thursday 27 July 2023

Time: 9.30am-1.00pm

Venue: Gary Bye Meeting Room, Life Path Trust Offices in Coventry

Workshop For Experts with Lived Experience

For the new Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training

by S. Nicholls, Training Administrator, and Expert with Lived Experience

Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik

It has been an exciting time rolling out the NEW Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism in the training office, and there has definitely been a buzz in the air!

I have been involved with the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training, as an expert by lived experience, and my lived experience is autism. I was late diagnosed earlier this year, but began to ponder this as a possibility, and seek ‘answers’ for myself in the last few years.

As part of my role in our training office, and as an expert with lived experience, involved in this particular training being delivered, I co-delivered a workshop with a colleague last week, to a group of people who had shown interest in also becoming a team of experts like us. My colleague and I worked with our Manager, Maria on what activities we thought would be good to allow people to get to know each other a little better, whilst also showcasing their skills and interests.

It was great to be a part of this, and take my admin hat off for a while, It was also really insightful to get a glimpse of what it is like for Maria, our Manager who also delivers training, and Julie, one of our trainers. I have enjoyed the opportunity to be involved, and it was great to see some of my autistic peers speak out for themselves, and others on the autism spectrum, whilst also having the opportunity to change the landscape of health and social care training - it really does feel as though the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism is pioneering!

During the workshop we shared some experiences on how we as autistic people, and people with learning disabilities have found challenges within hospital, and other health settings, and the impact it has had on us, and our families. This has spurred us on to want to see change, and if you have already completed your e-learning, and/or attended a webinar for this training, you will see that this training is very unique.

Having a team of experts with lived experience to co-deliver this training, alongside a qualified trainer makes it more personable, and ensures an open window into the world of learning disability and neurodiversity - breaking through many misconceptions, assumptions and misinformation about learning disability, and autism that would not be achievable without the input from those with their lived experience.

There is so much yet to come from this training, as we prepare for Tier 2, and I am really thankful to Life Path Trust, and CTC for their support, and encouragement, and of course this wonderful opportunity.

I hope that if you are in the process of doing this training, that you continue to enjoy the stages of the training, and that it has a meaningful impact for you, and your job role too.

Coventry Training Consortium approved to deliver The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism

We are pleased to announce that CTC has been approved to deliver The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training to its own staff, external customers and ICBs.  We are currently the only Lead Trainers based in Coventry.

Since July 2022 all CQC registered service providers' employees must have learning disability and autism training appropriate to their role. The training is named after Oliver McGowan, whose death highlighted the need for health and care staff to receive better training.

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training is the government's recommended training for health and social care staff. All of the training has been co-produced and is co-delivered by experts with lived-experience of learning disability and/or autism.

Oliver McGowan's parents campaigned tirelessly to bring changes to the legislation on training in learning disability and autism.

To hear about Oliver's story, visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHQrPVzTcMk

Levels of Training

Tier 1 - For people who require general awareness of the support autistic people, or people with a learning disability may need.

Tier 2 - For people who may need to provide care and support for autistic people or people with a learning disability.

Booking the E-learning

Everyone within health and care should start by completing the e-learning, no matter where they work and what tier of training they need to complete. To register for the free e-learning, visit: www.elfh.org.uk 

Once the e-learning has been completed, contact Coventry Training Consortium to book your one hour webinar (tier 1) or book your one day face-to-face training (tier 2). Your employer will assess which tier of training you will require and, once booked with us, we will send you details of anything you might need to do in preparation for the training as well as the dates and, where necessary, location.

Train the Trainer

Coventry Training Consortium is also approved to deliver Train the Trainer Lead Training in the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism (which includes 2 day Facilitator Trainer training, 3 day Co-Facilitator training for experts with a learning disability and 3 day Co-Facilitator training for autistic experts).

You can also visit Health Education England for further details on staff requirements for either Tier 1 or Tier 2 training. 

For more information visit: Health Education England  www.ommtprogramme@hee.nhs.uk

Questions

Unsure what to do next?  We understand the training is new to lots of organisations so please feel free to contact us.  We would be more than happy to talk you through the next steps. 

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Complete form below to register your interest

Complete form below to register your interest

Aren’t we all just a little autistic?

By J Wilcockson

Trainer in Understanding Autism at

Coventry Training Consortium

Many people I speak to will tell me that we are all a little autistic.  This might be because they have been told this in their workplace training, or perhaps because they themselves, or someone they know, has traits that are often seen on the autism spectrum.  When I did the online Autism Quotient test[i] the result was that I am highly unlikely to be autistic and do not require assessment. However, there are traits I have; things I know I have done for years which could be seen as ‘autistic’, including difficulties with some areas of sensory processing. 

From all the training I have received, professionals and autistic individuals have all said that you are either autistic or you are not.  As one autistic chap wittily and, I think, wisely commented: “saying you’re a little bit autistic is like saying you are a little bit pregnant!”.

There are two key areas of difficulty that should be identified before a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition is made:  1) Social Communication and Interaction, and 2) Repetitive and Restrictive Behaviour as well as Sensory Processing challenges.[ii]  However, for each person these 3 areas will affect them differently.  Being “on the spectrum” is not a straight line of least autistic to most autistic.  Instead it is more of a circle, where each person’s strengths and challenges will sit differently on that circle compared to the next person’s – for some, those strengths and challenges can even vary from day to day. 

For a person to be diagnosed as autistic they must be seen by a professional or team of professionals, who will consider as much of their history as possible and ask questions like those found in the Autism Quotient, as part of their assessment. 

To receive a diagnosis of autism can bring a mass of different feelings and reactions but for many it brings relief and understanding and the hope it will start to open doors for any support they may need.  To say that we are all a little autistic can trivialise and diminish the very real experience of living with an autistic diagnosis. 

The aim of this blog is not to enter into debate but to remind ourselves that, whether or not a person has a diagnosis of autism, they are just that: a person, with their own needs, goals, pet hates, challenges and aspirations.  The key is being person-centred; ensuring the support we give, and the environment in which it’s given, meets the person’s needs as an individual.

We have delivered autism training for many years at Coventry Training Consortium and the wonderful fact is that we’re all, always, still learning new things about autism.  Everyone on the training has an enthusiasm and vested interest in the subject as we all either support individuals with autism, know someone outside of work who is autistic or have a diagnosis ourselves.  Receiving training face-to-face means everyone has the space to talk about their experiences, ask those burning questions such as whether we aren’t all just a little autistic anyway and hopefully bust a few myths, whilst gaining a greater understanding.

References:

[i] Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) (psychology-tools.com)

[ii]  The National Autistic Society, www.autism.org.uk

Why Good Quality Training is Essential for Care Workers – A Family Member’s Perspective

By S.Nicholls, Training Administrator. A Mum, and Carer

I became an unpaid carer back in the late nineties, when my son J was born with Cerebral Palsy, and when he was a little older, he was diagnosed with multiple and profound learning disabilities. It wasn’t until much later on in his life however, that I realised I was a carer at all. Initially, you are just Mum, and you do all the things any mum would do. As time changes, and children grow, they head towards their teenage years. The practical, and physical responsibilities of parenting start to change. That is when you begin to realise that you are a carer, because most teenagers will start to become more independent, and find their own ways of occupying themselves; going out with friends, sleepovers, concerts, gaming, or other social activities. As J is a permanent wheelchair user, and with his associated learning disabilities, he was unable to find his own ways of occupying himself, without support.

Professional care workers began to support J for short periods, initially when I was expecting our youngest son, and J was around 11 years old. It then increased to short domiciliary shifts for his morning and evening care, after I’d had major surgery a year or so later. Eventually when J lost his special college funding and left college at 19, he then began to have some day support as well. He had become frustrated with being at home with smaller children to annoy him – sibling rivalries! With there being little activities for him to do, and as my husband and I were both working at the time, he would go for his day activities to a local centre while we were at work. It worked well for our family for a short period of time. Although admittedly it was a battle to get the support that J needed. As many family members of a young person with a disability will tell you.

We had a mix of care workers over the years. Some amazing people supported him, who were fantastic with J, and also with our two younger children. They would make Christmas special, try to ensure that our family home, felt like our family home still, and they also helped us to understand a bit more, in terms of the practical elements; such as hoisting, using slings etc. We were never taught how to do that, and had to learn for ourselves. I am forever grateful to those staff, for the impact that they made into both J’s lives, and our family as a whole.

Sadly, we also had some care workers, who seemed inexperienced, or not fit for the role. This resulted in accidents that caused J to have injuries, damage to his wheelchair, and damage to our home - with sockets pulled off the wall once, leaving exposed live wires, and his wheelchair joystick control box to be completely knocked off - causing hundreds of pounds of damage to his private powered chair, and also leaving exposed wires. There were also occasions with hygiene issues, due to lack of awareness and Infection Control training.

Each time, an episode like this happened, I would wonder why a few care workers didn’t seem to understand how these things could have been prevented, or why they were not reported to us, or the managers of the care provider. It seems looking back, and having the experience I also have now, that it is most definitely down to a lack of good quality, face to face training.

On the occasions where my son had injuries, or I had reported concerns. It did not seem that staff involved had adequate First Aid training. One of the most important elements I have found myself, when having my own First Aid training for my role at work, is the responsibility of the person, to understand the importance of prompt, and essential First Aid treatment. This could be something as simple as a cold compress; a plaster, or cleaning and dressing a cut or wound, depending on the injury or health problem. Nonetheless, prompt treatment, or reporting of injury is vital.

Around 2014, I began to manage a small team of personal assistants for J. The hours started out at just 6-8 hours per week one to one support, to enable him to access social activities outside of the home, and eventually grew to 84 hours a week one to one support, as he moved into his own home in supported living accommodation, a few years later. I have found face to face training absolutely essential for his support staff. As J lives alone, his meals are often made in bulk and frozen. Having staff that have been trained in Food Hygiene, gives me complete peace of mind, that they are aware of all the protocols for ensuring food is labelled correctly, and used within the safe time periods.

J’s staff recently attended Mental Capacity Act & Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards training (MCA & DoLs). This was hugely important for me as a mum; to ensure his staff were aware of his need, for them to support him to make his own decisions, and also to ensure that decisions that are made, are made in his best interests. It is all too easy, even unintentionally sometimes, for society to make assumptions for people with a learning disability, and to also infantilize them. I wanted to prevent this, and ensure that his basic rights are always protected.

J feels completely at home in his lovely apartment, and is now approaching his fourth Christmas in his own place. Most years his Christmas decorations are up before the end of October! With each Christmas that approaches, the decorations have increased, and I cannot count the amount of light up stars he has acquired! He is happy and settled, and makes sure that he reminds us quite often, when he comes to visit, that he is not coming back home for good. We always joke, and say thanks mate – we love you too! But the reality is, he didn’t want mum and dad cramping his style. He didn’t want to be stuck in with younger siblings driving him mad, and he is happy, which makes us happy. He absolutely loves his apartment, and the independence he has gained. The staff that support him understand his needs, and most importantly, support him in the way that he wants to be supported. As a mum, this is the most I could ever want for him; J is living his life, his own way.

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“As a mum, this is the most I could ever want for him; J is living his life, his own way.”

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Musings of a trainer in RSPH Level II Food Safety

by Julie Wilcockson

Of all the training we deliver at Coventry Training Consortium, the subject that probably most people love talking and learning about is food; in our Level II Food Safety course!...

When I applied to go to college I had to submit a 500 word essay I had written, about a significant event in my life.  As is the case for most of us, there have been many good, and some not so good, significant events in my life that have helped shape who I am and my outlook on life.  However, wishing to approach the essay from a light-hearted perspective, I wrote about my very first job (an exhausting, twice a day and once on Sundays, paper round) and how the chance to earn my own money meant significant independence and that I could buy whatever £3.50 a week could afford me – mainly electric blue mascara, and, more importantly, chocolate!  The significance of this was that it kick started a lifelong relationship with the delicious treats of a well-known confectioner and all the fun of joining a well known slimming group.  (Interestingly, my obsession with the electric blue mascara didn’t last too long).  My essay earned me an ‘A’ and helped secure me a place at college and it also helped entertain my college professors and those family and friends I felt worthy to read the innermost feelings and experiences I had shared.  My mum still has a chuckle about that essay from time to time!

My point is that, as well as working with it and eating it, people like to read about, write about and talk about food.  You can’t fail to be entertained, to learn, to try new recipes and to see others’ perspectives on such an important and essential issue.  So, when I was fortunate enough to start delivering training on the RSPH Food Safety training at Coventry Training Consortium, it was pure joy to be in a room full of people talking and learning about the safe handling, storing and preparing of food.  As I said earlier, I think I can safely say that of all the face to face training we deliver, the subject that people often find it easiest and most enjoyable to talk about is food! 

Even when we’re looking at horrific food safety reports that have been highlighted in the media, there is something incredibly empowering in learners using this to ensure their work with food is of the highest, safest standards. 

We consistently find that learners fully appreciate the opportunity to learn face to face, where they can share their knowledge of good practice with others and ask any of those burning questions that come up; for example; about recooking rice, and how to ensure their food is prepared, cooked and served safely for their customers.   

We can deliver RSPH Food Safety training face to face, either here at Coventry Training Consortium or there is the potential to deliver at your place of work.  We look forward to hearing from you as you put your staff on the path to outstanding, professional training and qualifications that improve their knowledge and skills around working with the important, and definitely interesting, subject of food!  We may even discuss chocolate in the training but I promise not to wear electric blue mascara!