Overview

This bill mandates specialist training on learning disabilities and autism for all health and social care staff in England who undertake regulated activities. It requires the Secretary of State to publish a code of practice outlining the training's content, delivery, and evaluation, ensuring it's co-produced and co-delivered by individuals with lived experience of learning disabilities or autism or their family members.

Description

The bill amends the Health and Social Care Act 2008, mandating specialist, in-person training on learning disabilities and autism for all relevant staff. This training must adhere to a code of practice created by the Secretary of State.

Code of Practice

The code of practice will cover various aspects of the training, including its content, appropriate levels for different roles, co-delivery methods, accreditation processes, procurement strategies, monitoring and evaluation, and implementation across providers. It must incorporate existing frameworks such as the Learning Disability Core Skills Education and Training Framework and the Core Capabilities Framework for Supporting Autistic People, as well as relevant national autism strategies and guidance. The Secretary of State must consult widely in the preparation and revision of this code, which will be subject to parliamentary approval before issuance and reviewed every three years.

Definitions

The bill defines key terms such as "specialist training," requiring co-production and co-delivery by individuals with lived experience or family members, and delivered in-person. It also defines "learning disability" and "autism" to ensure clarity.

Implementation

The bill specifies that sections 1 and 3 (mandating training and definitions) come into force 18 months after passage, while section 2 (the code of practice) takes effect after six months. The bill applies only to England.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't specify exact figures for government spending. However, significant costs are anticipated related to the development and implementation of the training program and the code of practice, including the cost of training materials, trainer fees, and administrative overhead. Funding will be required for the development and ongoing revision of the code of practice and for monitoring and evaluation.

Groups Affected

• Health and social care staff in England: Will be required to undertake mandatory training, potentially impacting their workload and requiring additional time commitment.
• Individuals with learning disabilities and autism: Will benefit from improved understanding and support from health and social care professionals.
• Families of individuals with learning disabilities and autism: May participate in the co-production and co-delivery of training, contributing to the program's effectiveness.
• Training providers: Will have opportunities to deliver the mandated training.
• Government: Responsible for overseeing the implementation of the training and funding the related costs.

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