Rita's Training Services

Rita’s Training Services Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Jai Sharda, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: 40 Westgate Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 7PN Monitoring visit: Rita’s Training Services, 10-11 July 2019

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Context and focus of visit

From October 2018, Ofsted undertook to carry out monitoring visits to all newly directly funded providers of apprenticeship training provision which began to be funded from April 2017 or after by ESFA and/or the apprenticeship levy. This monitoring visit was undertaken as part of those arrangements and as outlined in the Further education and skills inspection handbook, especially the sections entitled ‘Providers newly directly funded to deliver apprenticeship training provision’ and ‘Monitoring visits’. The focus of these visits is on the themes set out below.

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Context and focus of visit

Rita’s Training Services (RTS) is an independent training provider based in Sleaford, Lincolnshire. It began delivering apprenticeships in its own right in March 2018. At the time of the monitoring visit, 97 apprentices were on standards-based programmes. Of these, 49 were on a level 2 adult care worker apprenticeship and 42 were on a level 3 programme for lead adult care workers. Six apprentices were on team leader or business administration courses. There were also 20 apprentices following a higher apprenticeship framework programme at level 5 in care and leadership. Most apprentices were females aged over 19.

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Insufficient progress

Senior leaders have not planned effectively to meet the principles and requirements of an apprenticeship. They do not ensure that employers understand fully the on- and off-the-job training requirements of an apprenticeship. Leaders fail to monitor closely enough the time that apprentices spend in training away from the workplace. As a result, most apprentices complete their apprenticeship studies either wholly or partly in their own time.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders work in close collaboration with employers in the care sector to develop apprenticeship programmes that meet their organisational skill development needs. They ensure that apprenticeship programmes help apprentices develop substantial new knowledge during their training. A few employers provide apprentices with time during working hours to develop this new knowledge. However, too many expect apprentices to complete their apprenticeship studies in their own time.

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Insufficient progress

Senior leaders monitor effectively the quality of training and the progress that apprentices make. Managers meet each assessor every month to review apprentices’ progress and to implement actions for any who are falling behind in their studies. As a result, almost all apprentices make good progress. Monitoring visit: Rita’s Training Services, 10-11 July 2019 Assessors are well qualified and experienced in adult social care. They use their experience and expertise effectively to support apprentices to develop new knowledge, skills and behaviours and to progress and achieve.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers have developed suitable processes for recruiting apprentices. Apprentices receive detailed information about the apprenticeship during induction that includes what they will learn and the arrangements that managers have made for end-point assessment. As a result, apprentices gain substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours necessary in their work as care workers and care managers.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers have failed to provide apprentices with sufficient well-planned and high-quality off-the-job training. Apprentices complete much of their apprenticeship study at home. As a result, they do not have enough time at work to consolidate and enhance the new knowledge, skills and behaviour they are developing.

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Insufficient progress

Assessors use their considerable skills and expertise to help apprentices develop valuable new skills that they can deploy in the workplace that benefit their employer. They plan sessions well so that apprentices and their supervisor know what they will be studying next. However, they do not always communicate clearly with apprentices’ supervisors to ensure that off-the-job learning relates to apprentices’ job roles.

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Insufficient progress

Managers ensure that apprentices enrol on a programme that matches their prior attainment and ability. As a result, most stay on the programme and are on course to complete on time.

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Insufficient progress

Managers have a reasonably accurate understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of training sessions gained through observations of assessors. However, managers do not provide assessors with sufficient feedback on what they need to improve, or how to do so.

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Insufficient progress

Assessors provide apprentices with useful and supportive feedback on their work, which helps them to improve. Assessors communicate promptly with an apprentice’s supervisor to monitor progress and to intervene where an apprentice has begun to fall behind.

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Insufficient progress

Apprentices have a basic understanding of end-point assessment, including the opportunities to gain merit and distinction grades. However, apprentices and apprentices’ supervisors do not have a detailed understanding of what the assessments will entail, and a few say that they feel unprepared. Monitoring visit: Rita’s Training Services, 10-11 July 2019 Apprentices who need to develop their knowledge in English, mathematics and digital skills benefit from discrete individual sessions with a functional skills tutor. As a result, they improve their skills in writing reports and care plans and applying basic mathematical skills in the workplace.

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Reasonable progress

RTS’s designated safeguarding lead and managers have received suitable training to help them discharge their responsibilities effectively to ensure that apprentices are kept safe. They regularly update company policies to reflect changes in safeguarding practices.

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Reasonable progress

The company’s managers ensure that new staff are safe to work with their apprentices. All staff are subject to pre-employment checks. Managers provide mandatory safeguarding and ‘Prevent’ duty training and as a result, staff know how to make a referral to the designated safeguarding lead if they have any concerns.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices know how and to whom they should report any safeguarding concerns. Most have a reasonably good understanding of safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty. They apply this understanding well to their job roles as care workers, supervisors or care home managers.

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Reasonable progress

Assessors extend and reinforce apprentices’ knowledge and understanding of these topics as demonstrated in apprentices’ ability to recall and articulate what they have learned. Monitoring visit: Rita’s Training Services, 10-11 July 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

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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Reasonable progress

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

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