CQC · 14 Sep 2026 · 1 min read

CQC says primary care has more to do on autism and LD training

A year after the Oliver McGowan Code of Practice, CQC says uptake of required learning disability and autism training is patchy in primary care.

News
CQC
Practice managers
PCN leads
England

01 / What's changed

On 14 Sept 2026 CQC reviewed progress one year after the Oliver McGowan Code of Practice, which sets out how registered providers should meet the training requirement on learning disability and autism.
CQC says uptake varies across the country, and that many primary care providers still have much to do to train their staff.
Registration teams now check this when assessing applications to register.

02 / Who it affects

All services carrying out a CQC-regulated activity, which includes GP practices in England. PCNs employing staff who see patients should check their own teams too.

03 / What to do

Pull a training report for the whole team, including reception and admin staff, and find who has not completed learning disability and autism training.
Set a plan and dates to close the gaps, and record completion so you can show it at inspection.
Read CQC's guidance on training staff to support autistic people and people with a learning disability.
Consider adding practice-specific content, as CQC notes some providers have done to reflect their own setting.

01 / What's changed

02 / Who it affects

03 / What to do

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