Genius Software Solutions Limited

Genius Software Solutions Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Steve Hunsley, HMI

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

1439 Cumbernauld Road Glasgow G33 1AN Monitoring visit: Genius Software Solutions, 12 February 2020

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Context and focus of visit

Inspectors carried out a one-day visit to the provider because, at its monitoring visit as a new provider in October 2019, it was judged to be making insufficient progress against the theme: ‘What progress have leaders and managers made in ensuring that effective safeguarding arrangements are in place?’ During this visit, inspectors considered the actions taken by leaders and managers to improve the implementation and impact of safeguarding procedures. Inspectors met with leaders, managers and staff, reviewed documentation and training materials relating to safeguarding, and spoke with apprentices.

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Reasonable progress

Following the monitoring visit in October 2019, leaders and managers acted rapidly to review their policies and procedures for safeguarding apprentices. Leaders swiftly put in place a revised management structure to ensure that the safeguarding of apprentices was secure. They provided clarification for staff about their corporate responsibility to promote safeguarding with apprentices and reinforced their expectations to employers.

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Reasonable progress

The newly appointed designated safeguarding lead (DSL) has improved the provider’s safeguarding records. All staff have completed the expected mandatory safeguarding training and are kept well informed, on a regular basis, of any updated information that they need to be aware of. The DSL also keeps up-to-date records confirming that all staff have appropriate checks on their suitability to work in a training role with young people and vulnerable adults. All staff have completed the required ‘Prevent’ duty training.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have reinforced the arrangements for reporting safeguarding and welfare concerns. Tutors now have a good understanding about their responsibility to report any concerns that they have and the processes to follow when needed.

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Reasonable progress

Managers and tutors work well with employers to ensure that apprentices work and learn in safe and appropriate environments. However, leaders and managers have not fully ensured that apprentices are made sufficiently aware of the risks that they may experience outside their workplaces in the communities where they live.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers acted swiftly, following the previous monitoring visit, to ensure that tutors evaluate more fully apprentices’ awareness of safeguarding and that they promote all aspects of safeguarding as a matter of routine. Apprentices Monitoring visit: Genius Software Solutions, 12 February 2020 now benefit from a range of relevant activities. For example, they complete research, in the form of well-considered human-rights-based case studies, to enhance their understanding of safeguarding. Apprentices’ progress reviews have a stronger focus on reviewing apprentices’ awareness of safeguarding.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders, managers and tutors ensure that safeguarding topics covered in learning sessions relate appropriately to the needs of employers, particularly in the financial services sector. For example, apprentices discuss with confidence their employers’ organisational policies for safeguarding and personal welfare, and how these policies help to keep them safe in the workplace. Team-leading apprentices are aware of mental health and financial issues that their team members may face, and apprentices working in the financial services sector can explain clearly the policies associated with online safety and money laundering.

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Reasonable progress

Because of the improvements made by leaders and managers, apprentices know how to keep themselves safe at work, in their daily lives, and when using the internet. Apprentices have a good understanding of what to do and whom to talk to if they need to raise or disclose a safeguarding concern about themselves or others. However, apprentices are not yet sufficiently aware of the local risks or activities that extremist groups may pose to them or their families. Monitoring visit: Genius Software Solutions, 12 February 2020 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

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Reasonable progress

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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Reasonable progress

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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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