The OCM Group Limited

The OCM Group Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Emma Leavey, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: Hopcraft Lane Deddington Banbury OX15 0TD Monitoring visit: The OCM Group Limited, 9 and 10 March 2022

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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

The OCM Group Limited (OCM) was established in 1998 to provide training in developing competencies in coaching and mentoring for businesses. OCM began delivering apprenticeships in 2020. At the time of the monitoring visit, there were 117 apprentices studying the level five standard in coaching and mentoring. Apprentices are employed in a range of different employers based across the country. All training is delivered remotely via webinars and videoconferencing facilities. OCM works with Functional Skills UK to provide apprentices with GCSE qualifications in English and mathematics.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have selected and developed an appropriate curriculum to train apprentices to become professional business coaches. Leaders have developed their training programmes to ensure that the apprenticeship supports apprentices to develop new knowledge, skills and behaviours quickly.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders recruit apprentices appropriately. They use skills scans, interviews and assessment tasks to identify apprentices’ previous knowledge. Leaders and coach mentor supervisors (CMS) use this information well to ensure that apprentices join the right pathway for them. For example, OCM provides a ‘fast-track’ programme for apprentices who have existing skills, and this enables them to complete their training more speedily.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and staff take reasonable steps to ensure that apprentices with SEND are able to learn and achieve in line with their peers. Leaders provide appropriate additional technology, support and access arrangements for assessments to ensure that these apprentices have no barriers to the training. Monitoring visit: The OCM Group Limited, 9 and 10 March 2022 Leaders have very good relationships with the employers they work with. Employers provide useful and meaningful on-the-job training for apprentices. For example, apprentices have started to carry out appraisals with staff at work and are encouraged to incorporate coaching techniques while setting targets. Leaders ensure that all apprentices are able to complete their off-the-job training during their working week and that employers understand apprentices’ progress.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have begun to carry out beneficial quality reviews and internal standardisation, and they collect the views of stakeholders to find out the strengths and weaknesses of the training that apprentices receive. They use this information well to plan sensible actions to make improvements. However, it is too early to see the impact of these actions.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders do not benefit from any external scrutiny of the provision. As a result, they do not receive useful challenge and support to enable them to develop the quality of the provision further.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices develop relevant new knowledge, skills and behaviours during the programme which have a positive impact on their competency in their work. For example, apprentices learn to use the ‘wheel of life’ to help their clients to assess different areas of their life and identify their areas of concern. They improve their management skills, which enables them to delegate more effectively and use their coaching techniques to set work.

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Reasonable progress

CMS prepare apprentices well for their end point assessments. They ensure that from the start of the programme, apprentices know what they will learn and how they can achieve the best possible outcomes. Apprentices receive prompt developmental feedback, which helps them improve their skills and knowledge over time. They know the criteria they need to achieve for a pass or distinction in their assignments.

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Reasonable progress

CMS works closely with employers to ensure that they can support apprentices effectively. Employers, apprentices and CMS meet quarterly so that they all have a common understanding of apprentices’ progress. As a result, employers can plan on- the-job training well in order to develop apprentices’ skills further and help them put into practice what they have learned.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices studying GCSE qualifications in English and mathematics benefit from useful tailored training activities to improve their skills and help them work towards their qualifications. However, leaders do not place high enough priority on developing apprentices’ English and mathematics skills beyond the requirements of GCSE. They have not identified what apprentices need to learn for the workplace, and as a result, apprentices do not develop these skills further. Monitoring visit: The OCM Group Limited, 9 and 10 March 2022 Apprentices do not benefit from sufficient careers information, advice and guidance in order to help them understand their next steps in detail. Although CMS discusses possible options and leaders have begun to plan to support apprentices to gain individual accreditation, they do not provide any specific information about the opportunities apprentices have to progress to once they complete the apprenticeship.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and CMS have developed an effective culture of safeguarding through using the ‘code of ethics’ for coaching and mentoring, which supports safe practice. They have put in place clear safeguarding and ‘Prevent’ policies which ensure that staff and apprentices understand how to report any concerns. Leaders have assessed the risks to apprentices’ and staff’s safety and have sensible actions to mitigate any risks.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices feel safe and are safe in learning and in work. Leaders ensure that apprentices follow their employers’ safeguarding arrangements as part of their induction and CMS discusses this with apprentices during their training. Apprentices know how to report any concerns.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders recognise that they have not provided staff and apprentices with enough detailed and specific information regarding the risks to their safety, including those online. As a result, the knowledge of apprentices and staff concerning online safety and the risks of extremism and radicalisation is underdeveloped. Monitoring visit: The OCM Group Limited, 9 and 10 March 2022 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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