CARE-EX Services Limited

Care-Ex Services Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Andrea Shepherd, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection date(s): 31 July–1 August 2019

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: The Old Mending Room 9 Queens Square Huddersfield Road Honley Holmfirth HD9 6QZ Monitoring visit: Care-Ex Services Limited, 31 July–1 August 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

Care-Ex Services Limited (Care-Ex) is a private training provider that delivers apprenticeship programmes under the trading name of Concerto Training Services. Care-Ex specialises in the delivery of training to the care and children’s services sectors. It works with two large employers to deliver their apprenticeships. At the time of the monitoring visit, there were 74 apprentices, 69 of whom are studying standards-based apprenticeships at levels 2 to 5. A further five apprentices are studying apprenticeship frameworks in subjects linked to children’s or adult services at levels 3 and 5.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders do not have an effective strategy for the delivery of apprenticeships. They have a well-established relationship with two large employers. However, this is not used well enough to design a curriculum to ensure that apprentices swiftly develop new knowledge, skills and behaviours. As a result, no apprentices have completed their programme, despite around a third being past their planned end date.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders do not have enough oversight of the progress that apprentices make. They rely on feedback from assessors recorded in individual apprentice progress review documents. The feedback is too focused on the completion of the qualification elements of the apprenticeship and does not review apprentices’ progress in developing the skills and behaviours required for their programme.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders do not carry out effective checks on the previous experience of apprentices. They consider prior qualifications but do not consider the skills that apprentices already have. Too many apprentices are not learning new skills and are gaining accreditation for their existing skills.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders are aware that apprentices do not get sufficient time at work to complete their training. They take steps to encourage employers to provide the necessary Monitoring visit: Care-Ex Services Limited, 31 July–1 August 2019 time, but this has been unsuccessful so far. As a result, too many apprentices complete their learning in their own time.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders do not make adequate plans for apprentices to take the end-point assessment needed to complete their apprenticeships. They do not provide employers and apprentices with enough information about the assessment requirements or arrange for apprentices to take the assessment. Consequently, no apprentice who has reached, or who is soon to reach, their end date can yet complete their apprenticeship.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders recruit staff who are well qualified and experienced. They provide useful updates to keep assessors up to date with developments in the care sector.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and assessors do not use apprentices’ progress reviews effectively enough to monitor the progress that apprentices make. Targets set by leaders and assessors in the reviews do not reflect the existing skills of apprentices or the skills and behaviours that they need to improve. Consequently, apprentices do not develop the substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to achieve their apprenticeship.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and assessors do not work with apprentices or their supervisors to plan what training apprentices need to do or when they can do it in the workplace. Apprentices record their training activities, but the time spent is often overstated. They also include activities which are part of their job role and do not constitute training. As a result, too many apprentices carry out research and learning in their own time.

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Insufficient progress

Assessors visit apprentices frequently in the workplace but, in too many cases, they do not meet with the employer to discuss their apprentices’ progress. As a result, employers are unaware of what apprentices achieve or what they need to do to complete their apprenticeship.

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Insufficient progress

Assessors provide useful feedback to apprentices on how to complete the qualification elements of their apprenticeship. As a result, apprentices know what they need to do to improve their written work. Most apprentices produce assignment work of a high standard. Most apprentices who need to pass functional skills examinations in English or mathematics do so.

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Insufficient progress

Apprentices enjoy their programme and have a strong commitment to their own professional development. The majority develop confidence in working with adults and children with challenging behaviours. Monitoring visit: Care-Ex Services Limited, 31 July–1 August 2019

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Reasonable progress

Leaders implement appropriate policies to safeguard apprentices. They apply suitable checks when they recruit staff. All staff have undertaken training in safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty. Leaders and assessors receive regular, industry-specific updates on safeguarding through their work in the care and children’s services sectors.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices feel safe in the workplace and they know who to contact if they have a concern. The training that apprentices receive at work provides them with a good understanding of safeguarding and how it applies to them at work and in the wider community.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders carry out holistic risk assessments of the safeguarding of young people and vulnerable adults, including exposure to the risks associated with radicalisation and extremism. Leaders and assessors provide apprentices with appropriate information on these risks at the start of their programme. However, only a few apprentices receive updates on the ‘Prevent’ duty during their training to further consolidate their understanding. Monitoring visit: Care-Ex Services Limited, 31 July–1 August 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

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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 looked after children, 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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