Nuffield Health

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

Epsom Gateway 2 Ashley Avenue Epsom Surrey KT18 5AL Monitoring visit: Nuffield Health, 25–26 July 2018

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Context and focus of visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken as part of a series of monitoring visits to a sample of new apprenticeship training providers that are funded through the apprenticeship levy. Ofsted’s intention to carry out monitoring visits to these new providers was first announced by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector in November 2017. The focus of these visits is on the three themes set out below.

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Context and focus of visit

Nuffield Health is a not-for-profit organisation that started operating 60 years ago. It offers a wide range of health services through a network of hospitals, medical clinics, fitness and well-being centres, and diagnostic units across the United Kingdom.

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Context and focus of visit

In September 2017, Nuffield Health started training apprentices funded through the apprenticeship levy. They currently provide training for 80 apprentices. All apprentices are enrolled on new standards-based apprenticeships in team-leading at level 3. They work at establishments across the country and in a variety of health- service settings.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have created a well-organised apprenticeship training programme that meets the requirements of an apprenticeship. They make sure that learners and their line managers understand fully the content of the apprenticeship programme before they start. All learners are experienced members of staff who have recently started working in a managerial role as part of the Nuffield Health ‘future leaders’ programme’. Apprentices are selected carefully and assessed before they begin the programme. The assessment includes a thorough evaluation of their knowledge, skills, previous experience and qualifications. Leaders and managers make sure that applicants will benefit significantly from the team-leading apprenticeship at level 3. They also carry out detailed assessments of learners’ English and mathematical skills.

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Reasonable progress

Learners benefit from carefully structured and extensive off-the-job training. Managers make sure that trainers are highly qualified and experienced professionals who provide good support to learners well to complete each of the training modules. Trainers have monthly meetings with learners to review their progress, set learning activities and prepare them for the end-point assessment. For example, trainers coach learners skilfully on how to respond to competency-based questions through practice and constructive feedback. Monitoring visit: Nuffield Health, 25–26 July 2018 Nuffield Health does not currently have a governing body, but senior leaders and managers have started to set up an apprenticeship governance forum. This will provide challenge to senior managers and monitor the overall performance of the apprenticeship programme. Senior leaders and managers have clear and realistic plans for the future growth of apprenticeships as part of their ‘future leaders’ programme’.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers effectively check the progress that learners are making through detailed monthly review meetings. Where learners are falling behind or struggling with their programme, suitable interventions are made to get them back on track as soon as possible.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers use monthly quality and standardisation meetings effectively to improve regional trainers’ professional practice, and to share best practice. Managers often seek feedback from learners about the quality of the training they receive. Leaders and managers respond promptly to any concerns that learners raise.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers identify accurately the strengths and weaknesses in the apprenticeship programme. They have started to create a quality-improvement plan to monitor and improve the quality of the programme. However, their actions and targets are neither time-specific nor measurable and they do not monitor any progress made. As a result, leaders and managers do not know whether they have made sufficient improvements or what impact their actions have on learners.

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Reasonable progress

Learners are making good progress and the vast majority are on track to complete by their planned end date. They understand the benefits of their apprenticeship programme and see how their knowledge, skills and behaviours have improved because of it. Learners quickly carry out more complex duties and responsibilities and a few have already been promoted. They are confident that the new knowledge, skills and behaviours they gain will help them in their current job and in their future careers. For example, learners were able to describe how they managed their team members more effectively and organised their tasks better.

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Reasonable progress

Because of high-quality off-the-job training, most learners make at least good progress. The standard of learners’ written and practical work is good, and they value their learning. Learners appreciate the good-quality, well-structured electronic workbooks that help them learn and use opportunities to extend their learning within each of the programme units.

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Reasonable progress

Learners benefit from constructive and detailed feedback on assessed work, which helps them to improve. Regional trainers use their experience in leadership and management to help learners develop the wide range of knowledge, skills, behaviours and attitudes they need to succeed. Trainers quickly inform learners Monitoring visit: Nuffield Health, 25–26 July 2018 whether they are working towards a pass, merit or distinction. A minority of learners are working towards a merit. These learners are not challenged sufficiently to work for and achieve a distinction although they have the ability to achieve at that level.

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Reasonable progress

Managers have not yet introduced detailed careers information, advice and guidance. Apprentices currently do not understand fully the options available to them at the end of their programme.

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Reasonable progress

Regional trainers have developed effective working relationships with the learners’ managers, who are closely involved in progress reviews. As a result, managers agree opportunities for learners to develop new knowledge, skills and behaviours. Learners value highly the support they receive from their trainers and line managers.

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Reasonable progress

Regional trainers do not ensure routinely that the progress targets they agree with learners are sufficiently detailed. Too often targets state that learners should complete modules without identifying the actions they need to take to do so. Regional trainers do not develop further learners’ English and mathematical knowledge and skills during their vocational training.

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Reasonable progress

Learners who have not passed GCSE English and/or mathematics at grades A* to C or 9 to 4 are supported by a specialist tutor who is employed by a subcontractor. Learners value this support and understand how it helps them to improve their English and mathematics. However, managers do not assess the quality of this training or monitor how many times learners take examinations before they pass them.

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Reasonable progress

Safeguarding is effective. Leaders and managers place a high priority on safeguarding of learners. Learners feel safe and know what to do if they have any concerns. Learners reinforce their knowledge of safeguarding throughout their apprenticeship and include it as part of their learning journal.

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Reasonable progress

Staff have a good understanding of the safeguarding procedures and they use them effectively. Managers investigated thoroughly the very few safeguarding incidents that occurred. They recorded their actions and the outcomes in detail.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have trained staff and learners in safeguarding and ‘Prevent’ duties. The ’Prevent’ duty training is basic and focuses only on religious groups. It is neither specific nor relevant to the areas where apprentices live and work. Because of this, apprentices are not able to demonstrate a useful knowledge of radicalisation and extremism or recognise how the dangers of radicalisation and extremism might apply to their lives and jobs.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers complete detailed and thorough recruitment checks, including Disclosure and Barring Service checks, before appointing new staff. Monitoring visit: Nuffield Health, 25–26 July 2018 the guidance 'Raising concerns and making a complaint about Ofsted', which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/complaints-about-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 .

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Reasonable progress

Learner View Learner View is a website where learners can tell Ofsted what they think about their college or provider. They can also see what other learners think about them too. To find out more go to www.learnerview.ofsted.gov.uk .

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Reasonable progress

Employer View Employer View is a website where employers can tell Ofsted what they think about their employees' college or provider. They can also see what other employers think about them too. To find out more go to www.employerview.ofsted.gov.uk .

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Reasonable progress

regulates and inspects to 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to

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Reasonable progress

the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Reasonable progress

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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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