Chrysos HR Solutions Limited

Further education and skills inspection report

p.1

Inspection of Chrysos HR Solutions Limited

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Apprenticeships Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not previously inspected

p.1

Information about this provider

Chrysos HR Solutions Limited is an independent learning provider, based in Finningley near Doncaster, that was established in 2007. In April 2017, it began to deliver apprenticeships. Apprentices are employed in the private, public and voluntary sectors by companies throughout the country. At the time of the inspection, there were 154 apprentices enrolled on standards-based programmes in human resources (HR), learning and development, team leading and management. The vast majority of apprentices are enrolled on HR and learning and development programmes, with just over half at level 5 and just under half at level 3. A few apprentices study at level 7. All apprentices are 19 years of age and over. Inspection report : Chrysos HR Solutions Limited 3–6 August 2021

p.1

What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices enjoy their programme and are supported well by tutors and skills coaches to make good progress in developing new knowledge, skills and behaviours. This helps apprentices to become more confident and effective in their job roles.

p.2

What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices benefit from well-planned, online teaching sessions and they participate in meaningful discussions and group activities with tutors and peers. Tutors share helpful information such as consultation models for HR apprentices to use when discussing and solving problems, such as Edward De Bono’s ‘Six Thinking Hats’. Consequently, apprentices develop their theoretical knowledge and can apply it in work situations.

p.2

What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices who work in the same role for companies in very different sectors benefit greatly from discussing how theoretical knowledge applies in different contexts. As a result, they develop an in-depth understanding about how HR practices apply in a range of employment sectors.

p.2

What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices benefit from a positive and respectful culture both at work and in the learning environment. Tutors act as role models and support apprentices to understand the need for behaving well and respecting the opinions of their peers. This helps apprentices to understand the importance of modelling appropriate attitudes and behaviours at work.

p.2

What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Tutors and skills coaches provide apprentices with useful training resources and information to support them with their mental health and well-being. Apprentices learn how to keep physically and mentally healthy and the benefits of this in their work and personal lives. For example, they learn about the importance of staying well, getting enough sleep and having a healthy diet to enable them to learn effectively.

p.2

What does the provider do well and what does it need to do better?

Leaders and managers successfully implement their vision for the apprenticeship provision. They provide apprenticeships that successfully meet employers’ needs. They work closely with employers to review the programmes and implement a curriculum that meets the changing needs of the HR sector. For example, employers increasingly need specialist advisers who can give advice on topics such as talent management and organisational design rather than more general HR administrative staff.

p.2

What does the provider do well and what does it need to do better?

Leaders and managers have high aspirations for apprentices. They carefully select apprenticeship programmes to enable apprentices to develop a successful career in HR, learning and development and management. They provide progression routes for apprentices from level 3 to level 7 and encourage apprentices to achieve to their full potential. Inspection report : Chrysos HR Solutions Limited 3–6 August 2021 Leaders and managers have effective governance arrangements in place. They provide accurate information to the board of governors to enable the board to provide valuable scrutiny. Consequently, governors have an accurate understanding of the areas that need to be improved. At regular governors’ meetings, they carefully monitor the progress of leaders and managers in making improvements, thus holding them to account effectively for the quality of the provision.

p.2

What does the provider do well and what does it need to do better?

Leaders and managers successfully identify the progress that apprentices make in the development of skills, knowledge and behaviours. They ensure that skills coaches implement rigorous action plans and provide additional one-to-one sessions to support apprentices who fall behind. However, in a few instances, leaders do not act swiftly enough to provide the support that apprentices, who have been adversely affected by the pandemic, need to help them catch up.

p.3

What does the provider do well and what does it need to do better?

Leaders and managers ensure that apprentices receive useful careers information to plan their next steps. Apprentices benefit from valuable information about progression opportunities through qualification levels and the career pathways in their own workplaces. However, too many apprentices do not receive sufficient impartial careers information about the full range of opportunities in the HR sector.

p.3

What does the provider do well and what does it need to do better?

Tutors plan and teach the curriculum in a logical way that enables apprentices to build on their prior learning. Apprentices consolidate what they have learned and gradually deepen their knowledge and skills over time. They can apply what they have learned by completing more complex work-based projects and in their assignments. Apprentices learn about business environments and organisational cultures. They then apply this knowledge when learning how to establish expectations for appropriate work-place behaviours and how to manage these in their own organisations.

p.3

What does the provider do well and what does it need to do better?

Tutors are highly skilled and use their knowledge well to plan and deliver high- quality training that links to apprentices’ workplaces. For example, tutors teach apprentices about the importance of the context in which their organisations operate and how this impacts on effective decision-making. Apprentices use this knowledge during the recruitment of staff and in redundancy planning.

p.3

What does the provider do well and what does it need to do better?

Tutors work very well with employers to ensure that apprentices are on the right course. They review apprentices’ previous experience and accurately identify their starting points to plan a learning programme for each apprentice. Tutors work closely with employers to recognise work-related opportunities that will enable apprentices to apply their learning and to develop new skills and behaviours. Apprentices benefit from shadowing colleagues at work. They also complete interesting projects at work and take on additional roles in HR and learning and development. For example, apprentices in legal firms support the equality and diversity committee which enables them to put into practice what they have learned in their off-the-job training.

p.3

What does the provider do well and what does it need to do better?

Tutors use a range of assessment methods well to check apprentices’ understanding. They give clear feedback to enable apprentices to identify how to improve their Inspection report : Chrysos HR Solutions Limited 3–6 August 2021 work. Apprentices act on the feedback that they receive and, over time, produce a better quality of work.

p.3

What does the provider do well and what does it need to do better?

Staff use initial assessment well to accurately identify where apprentices have gaps in their English and mathematics knowledge. Apprentices who already have level 2 mathematics and English qualifications but who are identified as needing extra support in these subjects, receive good training from skills coaches and external specialists to improve their skills. As a result, these apprentices are more confident and capable in using English and mathematics and can write well-presented, professional reports, interpret data and use information to make confident calculations. However, apprentices who already hold level 2 mathematics and English qualifications and who tutors assess as not requiring additional support, do not receive sufficient help to improve their English and mathematics skills further.

p.4

What does the provider do well and what does it need to do better?

Tutors and skills coaches carefully plan training for apprentices who study courses leading to functional skills qualifications in English and mathematics. However, a few apprentices have made slow progress in developing these skills despite recent one- to-one tuition and referral to mathematics and English specialist tutors.

p.4

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.4

Safeguarding

The designated safeguarding lead and deputies have appropriate training to be effective in their roles. Leaders have implemented a safe recruitment policy which ensures that staff are appropriate to work with apprentices.

p.4

Safeguarding

Leaders have effective safeguarding policies and procedures in place and a clear reporting process to raise concerns. Apprentices know how to report concerns and know to whom they should report them. They feel safe and confident that any safeguarding concerns would be dealt with quickly by staff.

p.4

Safeguarding

Most apprentices have a good understanding of safeguarding and the dangers of radicalisation and extremism. They learn about these topics during induction and recognise that someone they know or work with could be at risk of becoming radicalised. However, these topics are not revisited through the programme. This means that towards the end of their programme apprentices have a vaguer understanding than those who have recently started.

p.4

What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Ensure that tutors provide effective support to all apprentices who have level 2 qualifications in mathematics and English to improve their skills further.  Ensure that tutors provide effective support to all apprentices who study courses leading to functional skills qualifications in mathematics and English to prepare them effectively for their examinations. Inspection report : Chrysos HR Solutions Limited 3–6 August 2021  Ensure that tutors provide impartial careers information about the full range of careers opportunities available in the sectors in which apprentices work. Inspection report : Chrysos HR Solutions Limited 3–6 August 2021

p.4

Provider details

Address Armstrong House First Avenue Finningley South Yorkshire DN9 3GA

p.6

Provider details

Provider type Independent learning provider

p.6

Provider details

Date of previous inspection Not previously inspected

p.6

Provider details

Main subcontractors None Inspection report : Chrysos HR Solutions Limited 3–6 August 2021

p.6

Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the managing director, as nominee. Inspectors took account of the provider’s most recent self-assessment report and development plans, and the previous inspection report. The inspection was carried out using the further education and skills inspection handbook and took into account all relevant provision at the provider. Inspectors collected a wide range of evidence to inform judgements including observing learning sessions, scrutinising learners’ work, seeking the views of learners, staff and other stakeholders, and examining the provider’s documentation and records.

p.7

Inspection team

Jacquie Brown, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector Chloe Rendall Her Majesty’s Inspector Malcom Fraser Her Majesty’s Inspector Ian Frear Ofsted Inspector Inspection report : Chrysos HR Solutions Limited 3–6 August 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 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.7

Inspection team

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.8

Inspection team

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.8

Inspection team

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

p.8

Inspection team

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

p.8