Dianthas Ltd

Name of lead inspector: Ken Fisher, Ofsted Inspector

p.1

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

p.1

Address: Unit 10 The Workshops Marcus Street Birkenhead Wirral CH41 3NY Monitoring visit: Dianthas Ltd, 25–26 February 2020

p.1

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.

p.2

Context and focus of visit

Dianthas Ltd started to deliver health and social care training courses in 2009. The company delivered apprenticeship programmes on behalf of other training providers before receiving an ESFA contract in September 2018. Currently, the company has 60 apprentices. Of these, 59 are working towards standards-based apprenticeships. Twenty-four apprentices are working towards adult care worker at level 2, 26 towards lead adult care worker at level 3, six towards children, young people and families practitioner at level 4, and three towards children, young people and families manager at level 5. One apprentice is working towards the apprenticeship framework in leadership and management in health and social care at level 5. The apprenticeship levy funds 48 apprentices.

p.2

Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers do not plan a challenging curriculum that enables apprentices to develop substantial new vocational knowledge, skills and behaviours. Too few apprentices are making the rapid progress of which they are capable.

p.2

Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers do not fulfil all the apprenticeship principles and requirements. For example, they do not ensure that apprentices receive their full entitlement to planned high-quality off-the-job learning. Too many apprentices do not have protected time during working hours for off-the-job learning. Consequently, they do this at home.

p.2

Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers do not provide sufficient staff training and development. Staff do not receive adequate preparation to deliver the apprenticeship provision. Trainer assessors lack recent and relevant vocational updating as part of their ongoing professional development. Monitoring visit: Dianthas Ltd, 25–26 February 2020 Leaders do not have governance arrangements in place. There is no external scrutiny of the quality of the apprenticeship curriculum. Leaders do not receive appropriate support and challenge.

p.2

Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers work closely with employers to assess applicants’ suitability for apprenticeship training. They recruit apprentices with integrity. Leaders and managers have recently implemented a revised system for monitoring apprentices’ progress. However, it is too soon to judge its impact.

p.3

Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers involve employers at the beginning of the programme to select appropriate optional units, for example dementia care or end-of-life care. This helps apprentices to provide specific support to their service users. However, leaders and managers do not involve employers sufficiently in the detailed planning and delivery of the apprenticeship curriculum.

p.3

Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers offer a curriculum that is especially suited to roles within the caring profession. Through the curriculum offer, they meet the needs of local, regional and national employers very effectively. Apprentices have good progression routes from level 2 to level 5.

p.3

Insufficient progress

Arrangements to identify apprentices’ existing knowledge, skills and behaviours are weak. Neither an occupationally qualified trainer assessor nor an employer assesses apprentices’ paper-based self-evaluation. Trainer assessors do not use information about each apprentice’s existing knowledge, skills and behaviours to plan individual curriculum goals.

p.3

Insufficient progress

Managers do not involve employers in the planning and coordination of on- and off- the-job training. Trainer assessors do not check that apprentices retain and can recall what they have learned. They do not use assessment results to plan or organise apprentices’ learning.

p.3

Insufficient progress

Trainer assessors do not identify specific milestones against which they can monitor apprentices’ progress throughout their programme. Progress reviews focus too much on the knowledge requirements of the diploma qualification and not on apprentices’ broader development.

p.3

Insufficient progress

Apprentices receive effective coaching and support in mathematics. However, although most apprentices pass their functional skills English and mathematics examinations, they do not develop their knowledge and skills further. Monitoring visit: Dianthas Ltd, 25–26 February 2020 Apprentices do not receive sufficient careers information, advice and guidance to help them identify their long-term career plans and to support them in their next steps.

p.3

Insufficient progress

Apprentices demonstrate clearly their knowledge and application of the topics they study through their written work and reflective practice. Standards of work are appropriate for the level of programme. Feedback on apprentices’ written work is helpful. Trainer assessors identify how apprentices can improve the quality of their answers. However, apprentices and employers have insufficient information about end-point assessment (EPA) early in the programme. Apprentices do not receive sufficient challenge to achieve high grades in their EPA.

p.4

Insufficient progress

Apprentices place a high value on the support they receive from trainer assessors. This helps them to improve their confidence and care-work practices.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers give a high priority to safeguarding apprentices and to their well-being. They ensure that each apprentice has a Disclosure and Barring Service check in place before enrolment.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Managers follow up apprentices’ absences systematically to ascertain the reasons for the absence and to check their safety. They record and track potential safeguarding incidents diligently. The designated safeguarding lead (DSL) has appropriate experience and training.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Leaders check applicants’ suitability for employment very carefully. Staff receive safeguarding training annually and through frequent updates.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Apprentices receive safeguarding and ‘Prevent’ duty training relevant to their caring role. Although they are aware of the importance of safeguarding in their work, many have difficulty in recalling what they have learned. Monitoring visit: Dianthas Ltd, 25–26 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 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.

p.4

Reasonable progress

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 .

p.5

Reasonable progress

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, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Reasonable progress

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.5

Reasonable progress

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

p.5