South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

South Central Ambulance Service Monitoring visit report

p.1

Name of lead inspector: Ann Monaghan, Her Majesty’s Inspector

p.1

Address: Bone Lane Newbury RG14 5UE Monitoring visit: South Central Ambulance Service, 12–13 May 2021

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

South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) began to offer the level 3 standards-based ambulance support worker apprenticeship from November 2019. There are currently 57 apprentices in learning. Six apprentices are studying functional skills English and/or mathematics as part of their apprenticeship, with two subcontractors. Apprentices are based across the SCAS region in its ambulance stations. They have worked throughout COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions in patient-facing roles.

p.2

Context and focus of visit

The impact of COVID-19 has been taken into account in the findings and progress judgements below.

p.2

Significant progress

Leaders and managers have a clear rationale for offering the level 3 ambulance support worker apprenticeship. It meets the skills needs of the National Health Service Trust and the region. Through careful planning, leaders have invested judiciously in the staffing and the very well-equipped education centre. They have implemented an ambitious and aspirational curriculum that enables apprentices to learn and make accurate links between practical and theoretical components. This results in apprentices making significant progress, with all those recruited to date on target to achieve their apprenticeship.

p.2

Significant progress

Senior staff carefully and frequently review the quality of training and report this to the trust board and a range of other ‘task and finish’ management groups. They have a very good awareness of the many strengths, as well as areas for further improvement. They use feedback from apprentices to inform their improvement priorities. For example, they have recently adjusted the duration of some of the learning components to allocate more time to emergency care training. Monitoring visit: South Central Ambulance Service, 12–13 May 2021 Training staff are very well qualified and remain occupationally up to date by working a set number of shifts in an ambulance station annually. They appreciate the many opportunities they have for training and professional updating. Tutors study for a teaching qualification, as well as more bespoke courses relevant to training and assessment. Each member of the team leads on a component of the curriculum, for example conflict

p.2

Significant progress

resolution or resuscitation. They research, consult with expert clinical or non-clinical colleagues, then share this learning with their team. This approach leads to all team members becoming highly skilled practitioners.

p.3

Significant progress

Leaders and managers have ensured they meet the requirements of successful apprenticeship provision. Apprentices benefit from very high-quality training but, due to its intensity, they do not always have enough time to complete their portfolios during the working day.

p.3

Significant progress

Leaders and managers organise and teach the curriculum to make sure apprentices build their knowledge and skills throughout the training programme. Apprentices learn quickly the knowledge and skills they need to start to work in local ambulance stations. They develop important communication skills confidently at the start of their training. For example, apprentices adapt the way they communicate with patients who have dementia or those who are particularly anxious. Apprentices become valued members of their teams rapidly.

p.3

Significant progress

Highly skilled tutors and mentors work together so that apprentices develop substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours. For example, a simulation learning resource, ‘simbulance’, is used skilfully to allow apprentices to support ‘patients’ in a range of challenging scenarios, such as the injury of a baby. As a result, apprentices can confidently apply what they have learned in training to a real-life emergency situation. Mentors support apprentices to build on this learning during their on-the-job training.

p.3

Significant progress

Tutors monitor apprentices’ progress meticulously. Apprentices reflect on what they have learned during frequent review meetings with their tutor. Apprentices who require additional help have clear action plans. However, for a few apprentices, the reviews lack useful feedback that they can use for further development.

p.3

Significant progress

Leaders and managers have effective arrangements to support the few apprentices that are studying English and mathematics qualifications. However, tutors have not given apprentices appropriate opportunities to develop their written English and numeracy skills further.

p.3

Significant progress

Apprentices have a good understanding of the career opportunities available to them, for example many want to go on to train as a paramedic. Apprentices are prepared well for Monitoring visit: South Central Ambulance Service, 12–13 May 2021 their final assessments, but not all are aware of the possibility of achieving a distinction grade early enough.

p.3

Significant progress

Apprentices benefit from a very strong culture of safeguarding within SCAS. Leaders and managers use established policies and procedures to assess and mitigate risks for apprentices. They draw on their significant involvement in local safeguarding boards to ensure all staff are appropriately trained and confident to deal with any safeguarding concerns.

p.4

Significant progress

Apprentices have a very good awareness of safe working practices. They learn to drive safely, including at speed in an emergency. They are adept at safe manual handling to meet patients’ different needs, for example those who are very heavy.

p.4

Significant progress

Apprentices benefit from a very thorough focus on their well-being, resilience, emotional preparedness and subsequent support for the challenging situations their roles involve. They are confident that any concerns would be followed up promptly. Apprentices’ support needs arising from working in potentially difficult environments, where they may experience traumatic incidents, are well supported through the trauma risk management process. Monitoring visit: South Central Ambulance Service, 12–13 May 2021 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

p.4

Significant 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.

p.5

Significant 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

Significant 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

Significant progress

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

p.5

Significant progress

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

p.5