Acknowledging Excellence: NHS Parliamentary Awards honour joint winners with the new Excellence in Education and Training Award

London, October 14, 2024:

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism team and Nick Carleton-Bland of The Walton Centre in Liverpool, have been named joint winners of the prestigious new Excellence in Education and Training Award at the NHS Parliamentary Awards in London.

The award, sponsored the UK’s professional body for management and leadership, the Chartered Management Institute, recognises those who are leading the way in supporting the delivery of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan through innovative approaches to education and training which benefit both new and existing staff, support professional development and improve patient care.

Nominated by Dame Caroline Dinenage DBE MP, The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism is the government’s preferred and recommended training for health and social care staff. Oliver was a young man whose death shone a light on the need for health and social care staff to have better skills, knowledge and understanding of the needs for autistic people and people with a learning disability.

The Walton Centre in Liverpool is the only specialist hospital trust in the UK dedicated to providing comprehensive neurology, neurosurgery, spinal and pain management services. Since being appointed as a Consultant Neurosurgeon at The Walton Centre in 2017, Mr Carleton-Bland has run a full time clinical practice alongside an educationalist practice in undergraduate and postgraduate settings.

With 318 MPs submitting 918 nominations—an increase from previous years—this year's awards, organised by NHS England, took place at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster. The event celebrated healthcare staff for their dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment to patient care.

Earlier this year, Dan Carden MP nominated Mr. Nick Carleton-Bland for his outstanding contributions to healthcare at The Walton Centre in Liverpool, where he is implementing world-class neurosurgical training using the UK’s first-ever NeuroVR simulator. Mr. Carleton-Bland led the initiative to acquire this cutting-edge technology, with support from the Jan Fairclough charity, and has used it to provide unprecedented training for over 400 medical students and more than 50 neurosurgeons on critical brain surgeries.

The Chartered Management Institute also highly commended the London Ambulance Service’s Frontline Apprenticeship Pathway, which has provided nearly 1,600 people with accessible routes to start or advance their careers in the ambulance sector since 2018.

The Rt Hon Dame Caroline Dinenage DBE, MP for Gosport said:

I am absolutely thrilled that The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training teams across England have been recognised with this prestigious award. Their tireless work has already transformed the way the health and care workforce support people with learning disabilities and autistic people.

This training honours Oliver's legacy and the countless numbers of autistic people and people with a learning disability who have persistently faced health inequalities, some like Oliver, tragically dying before their time. Oliver’s Training creates employment opportunities and ensures that people with a learning disability and autistic people receive the compassionate, adjusted care and support they deserve.

I am proud to have played a part in championing this vital training, which is changing lives and improving health and care across the country.

 

Claire Carr, WT&E Programme Manager for Oliver’s Training said: 

It was a privilege to represent The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training programme, along with Alan Morrison and Shaun Armour, two of our experts with lived experience, at the NHS Parliamentary Awards 2024. We were delighted to accept the award on behalf of the thousands of people across the NHS and social care who have played a part in developing, designing and delivering Oliver’s Training.

Shaun Armour, expert with lived experience of a learning disability, said, “Being part of The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism has increased my confidence in my abilities as I have been able to do something I never thought I would be able to do. It’s great that Oliver’s Training is improving the lives of people with a learning disability and autistic people. I would like to thank Paula McGowan for being an inspiration to everyone involved in Oliver’s Training. I feel privileged and proud to receive the award on behalf of the whole team.”

Alan Morrison, autistic expert with lived experience said, "As an autistic advocate who has worked alone and tirelessly for many years, being part of The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism programme has been hugely validating and rewarding personally. Our work is of the highest quality and through our co-production ethos has an authenticity few programmes can match. I am confident that wherever Oliver’s Training is embraced, outcomes for autistic people will improve."

Hazel Griffiths, a retired nurse with lived experience of autism, said, “ I am so proud that The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism programme has jointly won the parliamentary award for excellence in education and training. The teams rolling out Oliver’s Training have all worked so hard. Oliver’s Training has given employment opportunities to so many autistic people and people with a learning disability whose talent is amazing.”

The Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, the Minister of State for Social Security and Disability and Labour MP for East Ham, said:

I am delighted that the London Ambulance Service’s Apprenticeship Scheme has been highly commended for the Excellence in Education and Training Award at the NHS Parliamentary Awards. The scheme has helped over 1,600 people start their careers and boosted the proportion of trainee EMTs from BAME backgrounds by 9 percentage points between 2022/23 and 2023/24. This achievement is well-deserved.

 

Ann Francke OBE, Chief Executive at the Chartered Management Institute, said:

Congratulations to the joint winners and those highly commended in this year’s award. Each and every one of you is an inspiration, and worthy of recognition.

CMI is proud to co-headline sponsor this year’s awards, as well as sponsoring the inaugural Excellence in Education and Training Award. We know that there are wonderful examples of training and development happening right across the NHS, all ultimately leading to better patient outcomes. Today is a wonderful moment to celebrate that.

The NHS Parliamentary Awards, established in 2018, were designed to recognise the outstanding contributions of staff and volunteers working in the health and care sectors. In the first stage of the awards, MPs across England nominated healthcare teams and individuals in their local constituencies, shining a spotlight on their remarkable dedication and achievements within the NHS.

As the only Chartered body for management and leadership, and a charity incorporated by Royal Charter, CMI’s mission is to elevate the standards of professional managers across all sectors, including the NHS. We strive to equip individuals with the skills, confidence, and expertise needed to excel as managers and leaders.