Aspects Care Limited

Aspects Care Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Bev Ramsell, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

32 Pershore Road South Birmingham B30 3EJ Monitoring visit: Aspects Care Limited, 13–14 November 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 ‘Monitoring visits’ and ‘Monitoring visits to providers that are newly directly publicly funded’. The focus of these visits is on the themes set out below.

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Context and focus of visit

Aspects Care Limited (ACL) is an independent training provider located in Birmingham, which specialises in health care apprenticeships. The parent company specialises in supporting adults with learning disabilities and difficulties, domiciliary care and supported living services. In December 2017, ACL was successful in gaining government funding to deliver apprenticeships. In January 2018, the provider started to deliver to its first group of apprentices. Currently, 81 apprentices are on programmes. Some 45 apprentices are on a level 3 lead adult care worker standard and 36 apprentices are on a level 2 health care worker standard.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers are clear about their vision for the delivery of health and social care apprenticeships. Managers have responded to demands to set up as a training provider from within their own company and from other employers. However, they have not put the vision into practice well enough.

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Insufficient progress

Managers have not recruited assessors who are well qualified and experienced within the care sector and the subjects they teach. Too few assessors are suitably qualified to a high enough level in care, English and mathematics. As a result, they do not have a sufficiently thorough understanding of all the elements of the programme, including functional skills in English and mathematics. As a result, apprentices have a poor learning experience.

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Insufficient progress

Managers do not recruit apprentices who will gain substantial new knowledge. The majority of apprentices have worked in the care sector for a number of years, a high proportion of them with the same employer. Consequently, few experienced level 2 adult care worker apprentices develop new skills and knowledge during their studies.

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Insufficient progress

Managers do not ensure that all employers provide apprentices with the required time to complete their off-the-job training. Monitoring visit: Aspects Care Limited, 13–14 November 2019 As a result, a majority of apprentices have difficulty in attending their training sessions due to their workload, and too often they cancel their training sessions.

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Insufficient progress

Managers have not made appropriate provision to improve the English language skills of apprentices whose first language is not English. This restricts the progress these apprentices make and the employment opportunities available to them.

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Insufficient progress

Managers do not ensure that assessors prepare apprentices well enough for end- point assessment. Managers have not ensured that assessors and apprentices have a detailed enough understanding of the requirements. As a result, too many apprentices and employers do not clearly understand what is expected.

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Insufficient progress

A small minority of assessors are flexible and persistent in accommodating apprentices who have disengaged from their programme. Apprentices who had a poor experience at the start of their programme have been supported to re-engage. These assessors support apprentices who work night shifts by going to sites early or through remote means.

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Insufficient progress

Managers and assessors do not set high enough expectations of apprentices. Too often, apprentices do not attend progress meetings or their off-the-job training sessions. Assessors do not act quickly enough to ensure apprentices attend. As a result, too many apprentices make slow progress on their programmes.

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Insufficient progress

Assessors do not plan the curriculum well enough to improve apprentices’ English and mathematical skills. Apprentices are not provided with English and mathematics teaching to improve their skills in these subjects. Assessors do not use the information on apprentices’ starting points in these subjects to ensure they improve their skills during their programme.

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Insufficient progress

Assessors do not sufficiently plan the curriculum to address gaps in apprentices’ knowledge. They do not identify what apprentices already know and can do well enough. As a result, apprentices who have worked in the sector for a significant period of time do not develop new skills and knowledge. Assessors do not plan well enough to improve apprentices’ understanding of key terms and knowledge, especially for those who have additional learning needs.

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Insufficient progress

Assessors on the level 2 adult care worker programme do not routinely provide apprentices with feedback on their written work to ensure they know how to improve it. Apprentices’ knowledge and skills are not at the standard expected for the level and stage of their programmes. Too many learners do not have the level of communication skills needed to explain answers to questions accurately. Monitoring visit: Aspects Care Limited, 13–14 November 2019

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers have appropriate recruitment processes in place for staff working with apprentices. They complete all necessary checks prior to employment.

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Insufficient progress

The designated safeguarding lead and assistant do not hold the appropriate qualifications for their roles.

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Insufficient progress

Employer risk assessments are not effective. As a result, apprentices are working with employers where there are safety hazards for themselves or service users. For example, apprentices who had no formal training were administering medication to service users, placing them at risk. Additional training has not been effective to ensure all apprentices have retained the knowledge required to administer medications safely. As a result, managers cannot assure themselves that apprentices are safe.

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Insufficient progress

Most apprentices do not have a sufficient understanding of the risks posed to themselves and service users from radicalisation and extremism. The large majority of apprentices are not certain whether this topic has been covered as part of their programme. Monitoring visit: Aspects Care Limited, 13–14 November 2019 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.

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Insufficient progress

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Insufficient progress

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Insufficient progress

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Insufficient progress

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

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