St Andrew's Healthcare

St Andrew’s Healthcare Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Bob Hamp, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection dates: 17 and 18 November 2021

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Address: St Andrew’s Healthcare Billing Road Northampton NN1 5DG Monitoring visit: St Andrew’s Healthcare, 17 and 18 November 2021

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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 the Education and Skills Funding Agency 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

St Andrew’s Healthcare is a charity providing specialist mental health care mainly for the National Health Service and the armed services. It has hospitals in Northampton, Birmingham and Essex. Nine apprentices study the standards-based level 3 team leader programme. The programme started in September 2021.

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Reasonable progress

The level 3 team leader apprenticeship supports the strategic aim of leaders to ‘develop their own’ managers. Most apprentices have worked for the charity for several years and all are recently promoted. The aim of the apprenticeship is to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours that apprentices need for their first line management roles.

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Reasonable progress

Managers recruit apprentices with care and integrity. The apprenticeship commitment statements are signed by all parties. They contain the planned content and schedule for training offered by the charity as the training organisation and employer.

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Reasonable progress

The first quarterly self-assessment report and quality improvement plan focus on the new provider monitoring themes. Leaders have made clear judgements, which inspectors agree with, along with supporting evidence.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices have a good understanding of their apprenticeship. They understand the grading criteria and how the end-point assessment will work.

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Reasonable progress

A new subcontractor, Free to Learn, teaches mathematics and English to the apprentices. Managers have suitable quality assurance arrangements in place. It is too early to judge the impact of this relationship. Monitoring visit: St Andrew’s Healthcare, 17 and 18 November 2021 Suitable governance arrangements are in place. Governors are aware of the need to oversee safeguarding, to ensure the Equalities Act and to monitor the quality of the apprenticeship. It is too soon to judge their impact.

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Reasonable progress

All apprentices undertake a thorough assessment to establish starting points and suitability for the apprenticeship. This includes assessment of apprentices’ prior knowledge and the level of their English, mathematics and IT skills. However, this information is not used to shape the course or the speed at which apprentices progress.

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Reasonable progress

Trainer assessors have relevant knowledge and teaching skills to plan and teach a suitable curriculum. Planning is very detailed at lesson level but less developed at whole course level as the course is new. A training cycle identifies quarterly trainer assessor appraisals and reviews. It is too soon to judge its impact on trainer assessor development.

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Reasonable progress

During training sessions, trainer assessors make effective links to on-the-job training through apprentice self-reflection when undertaking tasks. It is not clear how apprentices are able to practise these skills in the workplace.

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Reasonable progress

Managers ensure the curriculum is sequenced to embed essential study skills before apprentices develop their research and communication skills. This is particularly important as many apprentices have not studied for some time.

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Reasonable progress

Trainer assessors use formative assessment tools in lessons to check apprentices’ learning and understanding before applying new concepts to use in the workplace. For example, apprentices revisit Eisenhower’s prioritisation model in the context of doing staff appraisals before considering the tools and techniques of delegation.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices receive effective off-the-job training. This training is monitored at reviews to ensure that the off-the-job training is adhered to. Apprentices also attend training sessions delivered by patients who share their mental health journey to recovery. This extends apprentices’ knowledge and understanding.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices have recently started their course and their progress to date is limited. Managers and trainer assessors have helpful tools in place to monitor apprentices’ progress, but it is too soon to the judge their impact.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices receive appropriate careers advice and guidance at the start of their course. They are aware that their apprenticeship provides a pathway to further qualifications, up to level 7. However, it is not clear whether this is revisited throughout their studies. Monitoring visit: St Andrew’s Healthcare, 17 and 18 November 2021

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Reasonable progress

The designated safeguarding officer is trained to level 4 and provides level 3 safeguarding training for staff. The deputy is trained to level 3. A ‘Prevent’ duty risk- assessment is in place and has been reviewed following the recent attack on a hospital.

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Reasonable progress

All apprentices know how to report any safeguarding concerns and receive online safety training. Trainer assessors discuss key safeguarding and welfare issues at their course induction and revisit these routinely in tripartite reviews.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices are very aware of the ‘Prevent’ duty agenda in the context of their job role. Apprentices in clinical roles liaise closely with the police/probation service to manage patients’ transition into the hospital. Apprentices understand how patients with mental health conditions are particularly vulnerable. Monitoring visit: St Andrew’s Healthcare, 17 and 18 November 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

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Reasonable progress

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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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