The Chief Constable of Merseyside

The Chief Constable of Merseyside Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Alastair Mollon, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Address: Merseyside Police Joint Command Centre Bridle Road Liverpool L30 4YD Monitoring visit: The Chief Constable of Merseyside, 27 and 28 July 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 Chief Constable of Merseyside received its first publicly funded contract for apprenticeship programmes in June 2021. It is an employer provider that trains apprentices in emergency service call handling for Merseyside Police. At the time of the new provider monitoring visit, The Chief Constable of Merseyside had 10 apprentices on the level 3 emergency service call handling apprenticeship standard.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders, managers and those in a governance role have developed a well- considered, ambitious curriculum to provide their apprentices with the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to become effective emergency service call handlers. They have established a culture of high expectations for themselves, their staff and the apprentices they train. Leaders ensure trainers challenge apprentices to apply their new learning at work and to develop the transferable skills they need to progress to roles including call handling supervisors, dispatchers and police officers in the wider force.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that trainers are well qualified and experienced in their subject areas. Training staff receive regular mandatory training on aspects including safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty. They complete regular vocationally related training on their individual areas of expertise, such as domestic violence and cross-force thematic training including violence against women and girls. More recently, leaders have increased their focus on updating and improving trainers’ teaching skills. This ensures trainers have relevant up-to-date knowledge and skills to pass on to their apprentices, with the aim to continually improve the quality of training that apprentices receive. Monitoring visit: The Chief Constable of Merseyside, 27 and 28 July 2022 Those responsible for governance have an improving understanding of the quality and effectiveness of training apprentices receive. They use their extensive knowledge, experience and skills as senior police officers and staff to hold leaders in

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Reasonable progress

the training team to account for the quality of apprentices’ training.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders’ self-assessment processes are underdeveloped. They do not provide an incisive insight into the quality of education apprentices receive. Leaders and those in a governance role have an accurate understanding of most of the strengths and weaknesses of the provision. They have an accurate oversight of the progress that learners make. However, leaders recognise that while their self-assessment processes inform quality improvement, they are not yet sufficiently targeted and formalised for them to accurately measure the improvements made.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and trainers ensure apprentices develop new highly relevant knowledge, skills and behaviours to the benefit of their team, the force and the communities they serve as public-facing staff. Trainers teach the curriculum in a logical order, starting with a block of theory training including basic law, call handling functions and switchboard IT systems. Apprentices then develop their practical skills and behaviours, with trainers’ support, in the contact centre answering calls. They swiftly develop into competent team members that make an effective contribution to the organisation/force.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers use information about apprentices’ prior knowledge, skills and experience to ensure they are on the right programme and to plan learning effectively. They use regular assessments during training to inform teaching and fill knowledge and skill gaps. Trainers identified that apprentices were struggling with their understanding and application of the THRIVE (threat, harm, risk, investigation, vulnerability and engagement) model of recognising and responding to vulnerability-related risks. They adapted the programme to include additional training and consolidation of learning to ensure apprentices’ understanding. Trainers provide apprentices with increased opportunities for them to apply their learning at work.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers closely monitor the progress that apprentices make. They record and listen to apprentices’ calls and ‘dip test’ to ensure quality and accuracy which they then discuss in regular progress reviews. Trainers, apprentices and their line managers work together to identify apprentices’ strengths and target their areas for improvement. Most apprentices make at least their expected progress.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers work with apprentices at the start of the programme to discuss the content and format of the apprenticeship, including their final assessment. Apprentices complete practice professional discussions to prepare them for their assessments and their next steps. However, trainers do not routinely provide apprentices with enough impartial advice and guidance on potential roles beyond the police force. Monitoring visit: The Chief Constable of Merseyside, 27 and 28 July 2022

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers prioritise the safeguarding and well-being of apprentices and staff. They have developed a strong culture of safety and safeguarding for apprentices. The Chief Constable vlogs on topics such as mental health awareness to promote openness around mental health.

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Reasonable progress

The designated safeguarding lead and safeguarding team have the appropriate training and experience to carry out their roles effectively. They are senior police officers with significant knowledge and experience of safeguarding that they use effectively to keep their apprentices safe and up to date with threats in the Merseyside area.

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Reasonable progress

Training staff and apprentices benefit from regular training on safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty and understand how this relates to them and their roles in the force. For example, they have recently completed training on involuntary celibates or ‘incels’ to better prepare for emerging patterns in potentially criminal behaviour. Training staff know how to keep apprentices safe. They follow clear procedures to report any concerns they may have. Monitoring visit: The Chief Constable of Merseyside, 27 and 28 July 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

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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.

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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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