Alpha Care Agency Limited

Alpha Care Agency Limited Report following a monitoring visit to a ‘requires improvement’ provider

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Name of lead inspector: Jon Bowman, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Address:

Sutherland House 43 Sutherland Road London E17 6BU Monitoring visit: Alpha Care Agency Limited, 25 April 2019

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Context and focus of visit

Alpha Care Agency was inspected in March 2018. At that time, inspectors judged the overall effectiveness of the provision to require improvement.

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Context and focus of visit

The focus of this monitoring visit was to evaluate the progress that leaders and managers have made in addressing the main areas for improvement identified at the previous inspection.

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Context and focus of visit

Alpha Care Agency, trading as Alpha Gateway College (AGC), is an independent learning provider based in Waltham Forest. AGC offers qualification courses for 30 adult students in east, north and south London, all of whom are already in employment. All students study level 3 diploma courses in health and social care and are in receipt of advanced learner loans.

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Reasonable progress

At the previous inspection, governance arrangements did not provide sufficient independent challenge and scrutiny of the management of the provision. In response, senior leaders have expanded the membership of the board and secured new board members with expertise in training, education and the care industry. The board now meets frequently to review the quality and outcomes of AGC’s provision. Senior leaders now engage well with a wider range of external partners, including two college groups and consultants who provide additional external scrutiny and support. As a result, board members have a sufficient overview of the progress of learners and the quality of teaching, learning and assessment. At the previous inspection, the managing director and one other director carried out significant operational roles, including direct work with learners. These responsibilities hindered their ability to fulfil their leadership roles. After the previous

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Reasonable progress

inspection, senior leaders acted swiftly to re-align their roles and responsibilities so that they no longer perform operational duties. This change enables them to provide the necessary leadership in managing the college and its development.

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Reasonable progress

At the previous inspection, the quality assurance arrangements for teaching, learning and assessment did not provide managers with a clear and accurate understanding of the quality of teaching and learning. Since the inspection, senior leaders have put Monitoring visit: Alpha Care Agency Limited, 25 April 2019 in place more comprehensive arrangements to identify where improvements in teaching, learning and assessment are needed. Senior leaders have improved their evaluation of, and support for, the work of assessors. Assessors now use the assessment process more effectively to develop learners’ skills and knowledge. Senior leaders meet regularly with assessors to review their performance. They cease to employ assessors who do not meet the standards required. Through more frequent observations, senior leaders have a better understanding of the strengths and areas for improvement in teaching, learning and assessment.

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Reasonable progress

Training for tutors is designed to respond to identified weaknesses, for example in helping them to plan teaching that engages learners and builds on their prior knowledge, rather than repeating what they already know. However, in their written lesson observation reports, senior leaders do not focus enough on how well the learners learn. Their observation reports are too descriptive and do not evaluate the quality of the provision sufficiently. Not all assessors provide effective feedback to learners on how to improve. For example, some assessors do not identify areas for improvement in written work or provide clear advice on how to improve.

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Reasonable progress

Assessors now have a better understanding of the concepts of British values and the ‘Prevent’ duty. As a result of training, they have grown in confidence in discussing these issues with learners. Assessors ensure that learners learn about these aspects during their induction and during lessons, where they use current affairs to prompt discussions. Students’ awareness of the dangers of extremism and radicalisation is improving. Assessors now use a standard presentation that helps learners explore the ways in which radicalisation can occur, such as the grooming of vulnerable people. Students are alert to the signs that may indicate radicalisation and know what to do if they have a concern. They discuss British values and how their own values relate to their own upbringing. They understand the need to respect others who may hold different views to their own. Through observations and records of progress reviews, senior leaders assure

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Reasonable progress

themselves that assessors are covering these topics with learners. However, senior leaders do not assess how effectively learners understand these topics. Monitoring visit: Alpha Care Agency Limited, 25 April 2019 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 . 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

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 the Information Policy Team,

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Reasonable progress

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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