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…
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!
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.
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.