The City of Sunderland College

Further Education college residential provision inspection report

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Inspection Number: 2458197 URN: SC046042

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Further Education College residential provision

Inspection dates 13/10/2015 - 15/10/2015

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Further Education College residential provision

Overall effectiveness This inspection: Requires improvement

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Further Education College residential provision

Effectiveness of leadership and management Requires improvement

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This college requires improvement because:

 Residential students are not adequately protected from the risk of fire. Preventative and protective measures identified on behalf of the Chief Fire Officer have not been fully completed. A fire risk assessment has not been completed, several fire doors, including those enclosing kitchen areas, stairwells and a store room were ineffective. It is not known to managers if all residential students have been involved in evacuation drills.  Safeguarding systems to protect residential students are not fully effective. Wardens commence employment without effective induction and safeguarding training. Safer recruitment checks are not consistently completed for all adults who work at the college prior to commencing employment. The safeguarding policy and procedures are not known to all staff and students.  The residential accommodation provided to students is not fully suitable. Shower facilities are not kept clean, maintenance and refurbishment of these areas is poor.

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This college requires improvement because:

Common rooms lack comfort, furniture is dirty, broken and badly worn. Equipment needed for food preparation and storage is not readily available.  The college does not have an appropriate induction training programme for all those with responsibility for the supervision and support of residential students. The Further Education college residential provision inspection report

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This college requires improvement because:

Inspection Number: 2458197 URN: SC046042

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This college requires improvement because:

residential manager does not have a suitable relevant qualification and/or experience for the task and level of responsibility they undertake.  There are noteworthy shortfalls against several national minimum standards. The more serious of these are in place to protect residential students in the event of emergencies or crisis. Fortunately, to date, the impact of these omissions on students’ safety is not significant. Where possible, managers and leaders took immediate action to rectify issues, particularly those relating to fire safety.

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This college has the following strengths:

 Residential students say they feel safe in this environment and can talk to any of the adults supporting them. They get on particularly well with the residential manager, wardens, and student wardens, who they describe as friendly, approachable, and readily available. Residential students appreciate ‘being treated like adults’ and say they would recommend the residential experience to other students.  Mentoring activity and the support available to students, following early identification of any issues, enables residential students to make the most of their college courses. Many improve in confidence and self-esteem as they develop independence skills and are exposed to new experiences, friendships and activities.  The college computer portal offers residential students access to course information, personal progress and achievements. They can also access support and guidance through a virtual learning environment. Safer internet use is

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This college has the following strengths:

promoted and effective measures are in place to monitor usage and deal with any issues promptly, to protect students.  A good range of enjoyable and exciting extra-curricular activities are available to support student’s development. In addition, students are prepared for employment; the college has its own commercial links as well as working with other agencies. These links offer work experience and part-time employment opportunities within the college.  Weekly workshops for residential students provide opportunities to improve knowledge and develop life skills. Recent sessions include training to identify extremism (PREVENT), and ‘Understanding relationships and issues of consent’. Cooking classes and homework sessions are also provided. Further Education college residential provision inspection report

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This college has the following strengths:

Inspection Number: 2458197 URN: SC046042

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This college has the following strengths:

 The college offers a welcoming and hospitable environment. It is small enough for all students to be well known to the staff team who teach and support them. The college grounds are set in a varied and peaceful rural landscape and there is a positive and friendly atmosphere across the whole campus.  The college staff team demonstrate a high regard for students and want them to do well. Managers are keen to learn from the inspection process and take action to improve things for residential students as a matter of priority.

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What does the college need to do to improve further?

 Protect residential students from the risk of fire.(National Minimum Standard 24)  Ensure the careful selection and/or vetting of all staff, volunteers and adults who live on college premises. (National Minimum Standard 34)  Provide adequate induction and continued training to for all staff with responsibility for residential student’s welfare. (National Minimum Standard 30)  Ensure the college has and follows an appropriate policy on the protection of residential students under 18 from abuse, and how to deal with allegations or suspicions of abuse. This policy should be known to all staff and students. (National Minimum Standard 3.1)  Ensure suitable accommodation and care is available for the care of residential students who are ill. (National Minimum Standard 43.1)  Provide all resident students with satisfactory living accommodation. (National Minimum Standard 36)  Ensure the toilet and shower facilities are suitably clean and adequately ventilated.

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Inspection judgements

Outcomes for learners Good  Residential students make progress in this environment. Several commented on their improved confidence and self-esteem. One young person said when she first came to the college she ‘spent much of my time in a bedroom and struggled to speak to others’, she is now articulate and confident in describing the college experience and she has lots of friends. This new found confidence also allows her to take part in exciting activities she would never have previously considered.  Residential students enjoy the residential experience, without exception they are positive about it being worthwhile. They consider it is teaching them independence skills and preparing them for adult life. They claim the best thing about being a residential student is being treated like an adult and spending time with friends. Students have clear aspirations for the future. This includes those who plan to go on to further study and those who will seek employment.

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Inspection judgements

 The range of activities on offer promotes students development in many areas including physical, emotional and social. In addition, young people are prepared for gainful employment. There are many commercial enterprises within the college offering a good range of work experience and paid employment opportunities. Students are involved in making presentations to members of the public attending the college zoo, have roles and responsibilities in the college catering facilities and restaurant and are employed or volunteer to help out at the many functions facilities offered at this site.  Students are encouraged to keep fit and healthy. They have access to the outdoors, a large indoor games area and climbing wall. The environment lends itself to outdoor activity which promotes physical health. Young people can access doctors and dentists as required. The college promotes the psychological and sexual health of students. External agencies provide counselling services

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Inspection judgements

and a sexual health clinic within the college grounds. The college mentoring and monitoring systems enable efficient and effective identification of progress and enable targeted support to students experiencing difficulties. This avoids negative impact on their learning potential, improving social and emotional development.

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Inspection judgements

Quality of service Requires improvement  The college does not meet all of the national minimum standards relating to the quality of care. In particular, the residential provision lacks attention to cleanliness, repairs, refurbishment and safety.  Shower facilities are neglected, poor ventilation creates problems with mould around cubicles and on shower curtains. Repairs made to walls some months ago still need painting and students feel blinds should be fitted to windows as the frosted glass on windows offers limited privacy. Given the choice, students would put improvements to the shower facilities above other improvements.  Residential students receive individual and personal support as and when required. Each has a one-to-one meeting with the residential manager and course tutors. They can also access specialist support from external agencies that offer guidance and support sessions within the college.

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Inspection judgements

 A broad range of exciting and interesting activities are available to residential students. They enjoy individual and group activities, as well as spending time together with friends in the student ‘bar’.  All residential students under the age of 18 go home at weekends so have regular contact with parents and friends. Most have mobile phones or can use the college phone facilities to keep in touch with those who are important to them during the week.  The college facilities include three food outlets for the use of students. The main kitchen and dining area offers a range of home cooked nutritious food and snacks throughout the day. Special dietary needs are catered for and a good amount of choice is available. The main facilities are closed in the evenings leaving residential students to cater for themselves during this time. Self-catering cooking equipment and food storage facilities are very limited and as a result, several

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Inspection judgements

students rely on unhealthy fast food and takeaways.  Residential students can access healthcare using local general practitioner services, dentist and opticians. Specialist health and counselling services are also readily available. Young people take responsibility for their own medication; however, wardens can help with this if needed. Medical needs are known to those with supervisory responsibility for students so that they can offer additional support if necessary. Procedures for dealing with students who are unwell during the college day are unclear.

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Inspection judgements

Safeguarding Inadequate  The lack of effective attention to protecting residential students in the event of a fire is a serious threat to their safety. Responsibility for completing regular health and safety checks, ensuring risk assessments are in place, and organising maintenance and repairs are unclear. Several actions from the previous Chief Fire Officer report dated November 2014 remain unresolved.  The college procedures for the safe recruitment of all staff do not meet current standards. Several staff members have started work without checks having been completed. References have not been verified and there are gaps in employment records for two recently appointed staff. Checks for adults who live on the site have not been scrutinised by the college to see if any known risks exist.  Staff members, including those with responsibility for providing supervision and support to residential students are not provided with appropriate induction.

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Inspection judgements

Arrangements for them to complete safeguarding training including allegations management, and training in fire safety is unclear and left to chance.  Clear boundaries and expectations of behaviour are in place. Residential learners say they feel safe and can identify several adults who they can talk to and express any concerns. Early intervention with any student experiencing difficulties takes place to promote their welfare. Attendance and achievement is monitored and any reports of concern from young people are dealt with effectively.  The college has invested in a new safeguarding database. All potential safeguarding issues and concerns are recorded; the staff team have access to a central electronic recording system. Oversight of this system and review of incidents by the lead mentor and residential team ensures that issues are dealt with effectively and in a timely manner, to protect students. 

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Inspection judgements

Residential learners know how to make a complaint, detail on how to do this is included in the handbook and there is also a suggestion box just outside the residential accommodation. The residential manager provides individual support sessions and students are given opportunities to express any concerns.  Students are not involved in offending behaviour; the consumption of alcohol is carefully controlled and not available to those under 18. The use of any illegal drug is strictly forbidden and this is carefully monitored with the assistance of the police and their sniffer dogs that use the college’s dog grooming facilities.  Compulsory evening workshops are provided for resident students to help them understand how to keep themselves safe. The sessions cover a variety of topics including extremism, bullying and equality and diversity. A session provided during the inspection helped young people to consider ‘what makes a good

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Inspection judgements

The effectiveness of leadership and management Requires improvement  The requirements of the national minimum standards for further education colleges are not fully met. Residential staff members do not receive the induction and essential training required to ensure they can support residential learners safely and effectively. Student wardens have not undertaken safeguarding training so that they know how to deal with allegations, or fire safety training.  Weaknesses in the residential provision are not well identified so that appropriate action can be taken to improve. The residential manager does not hold a suitable relevant qualification or significant experience in this field. Senior staff members do not monitor the quality of the provision on a regular basis so that action for improvement can be undertaken. Responsibilities and accountabilities are unclear. Knowledge of the national minimum standards (for residential students under 18

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Inspection judgements

at further education colleges) is poor.  Leaders and managers took immediate action where possible to address the shortfalls identified during this inspection, particularly those relating to fire safety. They demonstrate a willingness and clear capacity for improvement.  Regular communication and discussions between college staff, academic staff and residential workers supports the welfare of residential students. The staff team are alerted to and aware of any particular difficulties and issues concerning students, allowing them to provide additional support, supervision and guidance.  Residential students feel they are treated like adults and listened to. Meaningful consultation sessions take place. Students recently requested a cash machine on the premises and this is now been installed. The range of activities, which now include trips to the cinema, bowling, and go–carting, has been improved. Access

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Inspection judgements

to IT equipment has developed and further installations are planned to improve Wi-Fi across the site.  There has been considerable investment in the residential property since the previous inspection. This includes a new heating system, new carpets throughout and the creation of a new laundry facility. The appointment of a residential manager demonstrates some ongoing commitment to the residential provision. COLLEGE DETAILS

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Inspection judgements

Type of college Further education college residential provision

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Inspection judgements

Approximate number of learners in residence

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Inspection judgements

Principal/CEO Marcus Clinton Date of previous inspection 24/05/2012 Website address http://www.northumberland.ac.uk

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Purpose and Scope of inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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Purpose and Scope of inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the inspection framework and the evaluation schedule for the inspection of accommodation in further education colleges.

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Contextual information

Northumberland College Kirkley Hall campus offers a rural setting eight miles from the city of Newcastle.

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Contextual information

The college offers a vast range of full and part-time work-based, further education courses and apprenticeships. A good range of study options are available.

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Contextual information

The college provides residential accommodation on site which consists predominantly of a three storey building with separate floors for boys and girls. Accommodation for adults is separate from this facility.

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Information about this inspection

Lead inspectors Janice Hawtin: Social Care Regulatory Inspector

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Information about this inspection

Helen Humphries: Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Information about this inspection

One Social Care Regulatory Inspector (SCRI) and a member of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate Team (HMI) carried out the inspection with short notice. Inspectors took account of the provider's most recent self-assessment report and development plans, and the previous inspection report. Inspectors also used data on learners' achievements over the last three years to help them make judgements. Inspectors used group and individual interviews, telephone calls and online questionnaires to gather the views of learners and employers; these views are reflected throughout the report.

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What inspection judgements mean

Detailed grade characteristics can be viewed in the Evaluation schedule for inspection of residential provision in further education colleges 2014

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What inspection judgements mean

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/evaluation-schedule-for-inspection-of-residential-provision- further-education-colleges

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What inspection judgements mean

guidance 'Raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted', which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/ofsted If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234 , or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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What inspection judgements mean

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What inspection judgements mean

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What inspection judgements mean

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What inspection judgements mean

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