Workforce update for 

Services supporting people with a learning disability and/or autistic people

Welcome to this month's newsletter for adult social care services that support 

people with a learning disability and/or autistic people. We're sharing the latest 

news, resources, events and funding opportunities from Skills for Care and partners.

Skills for Care news

Mandatory training requirement on learning disability and autism: What you need to know.

We recently ran a webinar where we shared an overview of the Oliver McGowan Code of Practice, which set out how Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered providers could meet the statutory training on learning disability and autism appropriate to their staff’s roles. If you weren’t able to make it you can watch the recorded webinar now.

To help answer any questions you may have on the training, we have produced a frequently asked questions section for care providers. These were last updated Thursday 13 November 2025, and we will be regularly updating them as more questions arise.

You will need an Adult Social Care Workforce Dataset (ASC-WDS) account to claim funding to support Oliver’s Training.

Ten Public Health Tips eLearning

People working in adult social care play a vital role in public health, but their contribution can be made even greater with development opportunities such as eLearning.

The All Our Health eLearning module offers ten practical, prevention-focused tips to help improve quality of care, enhance understanding of public health, and support better articulation of the role social care plays in promoting health. It can form part of staff induction and can be used by employers to evidence training for CQC compliance.

You can find out more and start the module on our website.

Building confidence through quality-assured learning 

High-quality learning is essential for building a skilled, confident, and resilient adult social care workforce. The Department of Health and Social Care’s Quality Assured Care Learning Service (QACLS) reviews and benchmarks training providers, courses, and qualifications, helping employers identify trusted, effective learning that improves outcomes for staff and for people who draw on care and support. Quality-assured courses are also eligible for funding through the Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS), enabling employers to invest in strong, relevant training. 

As part of the QACLS, Skills for Care quality assures training providers and other organisations delivering Oliver’s Training against a bespoke quality framework co-produced with autistic people and people with a learning disability. This ensures employers can confidently commission high-quality Oliver’s Training and supports wider access and uptake across the sector. 

Find out more

Positive behavioural support

We have recently updated our webpage on Positive behavioural support (PBS), making it easier for you to access clear and practical information about our PBS peer review process.

As part of these updates, we’ve added a short, recorded presentation that explains what the PBS peer review process involves, how to express interest, and what you can expect from the review itself. It’s a helpful starting point for anyone interested in strengthening their PBS practice or understanding how peer review can support continuous improvement.

Find out more about PBS on our website

New resources about supporting people living with dementia.

Did you know that about 1 in 5 people with a learning disability who are over the age of 65 will develop dementia? People with learning disabilities who develop dementia generally do so at a younger age. This is particularly the case for people with Down's syndrome: a third of people with Down's syndrome develop dementia in their 50s.

We’re proud to share our range of dementia resources designed to support people living with dementia and those who care for them.

Developed for the adult social care workforce - including home care workers, care home staff, community teams, and family carers - these brand-new resources make dementia information accessible, person-centred, and practical.

With the right skills and knowledge, we can ensure a good quality of life at every stage of dementia, helping individuals remain active and engaged for as long as possible.

Our resources cover:

▪  Prevention
▪  Before and after diagnosis
▪  Support
▪  Family carers
▪  End of life care 

Explore the resources

Sector news

Fair Pay Agreements in adult social care

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is introducing Fair Pay Agreements (FPAs) in adult social care so that care professionals are recognised and rewarded for the important work that they do. DHSC is seeking views about the FPA process via an open consultation.

An easy-read version of the consultation is now available, which makes the information more accessible.

This is your opportunity to help shape policy to improve pay and conditions in the sector. Have your say by 6 March 2026 (extended deadline for the easy-read version of the consultation).

Find out more

Mencap – Letter to government about learning disability nursing

During May, our ‘recruiting the right people’ campaign offered insights, guidance, tools and resources to help employers with their recruitment activity. 

The campaign aims to help employers build more diverse workforces, understand how to use values-based recruitment approaches and create welcoming environments that make staff want to stay.

Read the letter and its recommendations

Adult social care practice evaluation scheme

A new Practice Evaluation Scheme for Adult Social Care has been launched by the National Institute for Health and Care Research School for Social Care Research

.
The funding available through this scheme is to help people working in social care to work jointly with researchers to test new ideas and ways of working.

The funding provides an opportunity to learn what works best and to improve support for people who draw on care and support services.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 13 February 2026.

Find out more and apply

Flu vaccine available now

All providers are encouraged to support those they work with to take up the flu vaccine as soon as possible.  

The vaccine is available from:

▪ GP  
▪ Local pharmacy
▪ Schools for children and young people with Special Educational Needs
▪ Hospitals - if someone you support is in hospital, ask the staff if they can vaccinate during the inpatient stay.  

If you have someone who is needle phobic and, despite reasonable adjustments, is unable to tolerate, please ask for the nasal spray. 

Don’t forget it is available to you as support staff/carers, and you can get it through your employer or at your local pharmacy. If you are a support worker/carer with a 2- or 3-year-old at home, they are also eligible, as are school-age children up until year 11.

Don't let issues about decision-making get in the way of health - follow the good practice in place you have for other decisions where capacity to consent may be uncertain. The NHS offers straightforward information about decision-making.

The NHS provides a short video and an easy-read leaflet you can share with those you support.

If someone you support has Down syndrome, they will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, and it can be booked at the same time as the flu vaccine.  People with learning disabilities who also have conditions that cause a weakened immune system may also be eligible - please ask the GP or pharmacist when you book or use the pharmacy booking below. 

The pneumococcal vaccination can help protect against pneumonia – those you support may already have had this at the GP practice. It's usually one dose in a lifetime. Recommended for babies and over-65s, and for those who may get seriously ill from pneumococcal infections. Pneumococcus is the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia. Ask the GP if unsure.

Book a flu vaccine (and Covid if eligible) at a local pharmacy

Liberty Protection Safeguards updates

The Minister has announced that the Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) will return to consultation, described as delivering improved safeguarding and protections for vulnerable people. 

The consultation, expected in the first half of next year, will seek views from families, carers and practitioners, including social workers, nurses, psychologists and occupational therapists. It will be jointly led by the Department of Health and Social Care and the Ministry of Justice. 

Meanwhile, the definition of “deprivation of liberty” is under Supreme Court scrutiny, with a ruling that could remove thousands from requiring authorisation. The CQC’s latest State of Care report highlights related concerns.

Find out more

Get involved

GOLD conference 2026

Registrations are open for Bild’s Growing Older with Learning Disabilities (GOLD) Conference 2026, ‘Connected Care: Good health and growing older across health and social care’, taking place online on Wednesday 25 February 2026.

This year’s online event explores good health for people with learning disabilities, and how health and social care can work together to achieve it. Taking a broad, integrated approach, the event will share insights from both sectors, highlight work that brings them together, and consider how each sector can learn from the other to support wellbeing at every stage of life.

Alongside a focus on ageing and later life, we’ll also discuss the role of neighbourhood and locality-based initiatives in promoting inclusion, connection, and health within communities.

Join us to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and advance a shared vision of better health for people with learning disabilities throughout the lifespan.

A good social life

Learning Disability England has been part of a project led by the Arc Research Unit to find out what people with learning disabilities think about:

▪ what makes a good social life
▪ what gets in the way
▪ what needs to change?

The team are sharing the key messages from the project at a free webinar on Wendesday 10 December at 14:00. There will be useful learning for commissioners, practitioners and service providers and policy.

Book your place

Learning day – learning disabilities and neurodiversity

The Princess Alice Hospice invites you to their inclusive learning day on Friday 30 January 2026, focusing on 'Learning from people with Learning Disabilities and Neurodiversity: Choice and care at end of life'. 

Find out more and book your place on their website. 

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