Recommendation R71: Specialist training for healthcare assistants
From Muckamore Abbey Hospital Inquiry Report, published 18 June 2026.
Recommendation
All healthcare assistants working with people with learning disabilities and autistic people should be provided with training, which should include specialist learning disability training as well as basic positive behaviour support (PBS). They should be required to complete successfully an examined course (with particular focus on behaviours that challenge) within six months of appointment, in addition to their induction. Consideration should be given to creating a Northern Ireland-wide course.
Government response
No government response to this recommendation is on the record yet.
Delivery
No statement on delivery from Department of Health NI has been found in the sources searched (last checked 22 June 2026). This is separate from the response above.