Hybrid Technical Services Limited

Hybrid Technical Services Limited Report following a monitoring visit to a ‘requires improvement’ provider

p.1

Name of lead inspector:

Alison Cameron Brandwood, His Majesty's Inspector Inspection dates: 22 and 23 September 2022

p.1

Name of lead inspector:

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

p.1

Address:

Unit 3 Heysham Road Bootle Merseyside L30 6UR Monitoring visit: Hybrid Technical Services Limited, 22 and 23 September 2022

p.1

Context and focus of visit

Hybrid Technical Services Limited (Hybrid) was inspected in September 2021. At that time, inspectors judged the overall effectiveness of the provision to require improvement.

p.2

Context and focus of visit

The focus of this monitoring visit was to evaluate the progress that leaders and managers have made in addressing the main areas for improvement identified at the previous inspection.

p.2

Context and focus of visit

Hybrid is based in Liverpool, Merseyside. At the time of the visit, 65 apprentices were following the level 3 standards-based apprenticeship in gas engineering operative. Fourteen apprentices were studying level 3 apprenticeship standard in installation electrician and maintenance electrician. The majority of apprentices are over 19 years of age. The provider works with employers in the north west of England. Hybrid does not subcontract out any of its provision.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders have made reasonable progress in establishing effective quality assurance processes. They have made improvements to quality processes such as the observation of teaching and learning. Leaders recognise they have work still to do to ensure improvements are consistently embedded across the organisation. Leaders are making reasonable progress in improving most weaknesses identified at the previous inspection. Apprentices who were significantly past their planned end date have now all completed and achieved their apprenticeship. Leaders have managed the impact of the changes to their end-point assessment organisation appropriately. They have plans in place for the few current apprentices affected by this change and who are past their planned end dates to complete in the next few months. Leaders select apprentices and the employers with whom they work with integrity. They choose not to work with employers who cannot meet the off-the-job

p.2

Reasonable progress

expectations of an apprenticeship. They refer employers to other providers if they are unable to meet their needs. Leaders have frequent oversight of the progress apprentices are making through monthly progress tracking meetings. However, they recognise that they need to monitor the progress that apprentices make from their starting points more Monitoring visit: Hybrid Technical Services Limited, 22 and 23 September 2022 effectively. This is so they can put in place quickly any interventions that apprentices need to ensure they make the best progress they can. Leaders have still not established formal governance arrangements. They have put in place the interim measure of a paid consultant to provide scrutiny and challenge. However, leaders recognise that this is not a long-term solution. They have plans to establish a governance board by the end of December 2022.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Trainers plan an appropriate curriculum so that apprentices develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to be successful. Most trainers use the results from assessments of apprentices’ ongoing training to inform the curriculum. Apprentices with lower mathematical grades complete extra sessions to improve their mathematical skills. This supports them when completing knowledge on scientific principles. Apprentices are proud of the new knowledge and skills they learn as a result of their apprenticeship. Skills coaches use the information they gather about employers’ business needs to develop learning plans for apprentices. Trainers support apprentices to develop the behaviours they need at work. Gas apprentices who work in domestic houses develop customer service skills tailored to their clients. Apprentices talk confidently about the safeguarding measures they need to be aware of in their clients’ homes,

p.3

Reasonable progress

such as identifying signs of abuse. Trainers of electrical maintenance apprentices include additional modules such as 'part p' into the curriculum. This supports apprentices who carry out domestic installations to develop their testing skills. Apprentices are aware of the grades they can achieve in their final assessments. However, trainers and skills coaches do not routinely provide feedback to apprentices on how to improve their work, including how to achieve distinction grades. Feedback on apprentices’ work is sometimes cursory.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders coordinate apprentices on- and off-the-job training effectively. Trainers discuss with employers what apprentices already know and can and cannot do. Employers are routinely involved in apprentices’ progress reviews. They have a clear oversight of the progress that their apprentice is making. Apprentices take what they learn on their programme and use it to improve their performance at work. Gas apprentices learn about calculations of boiler rates to identify how much gas a boiler requires. They practise this at work by testing boiler rates to work out the correct size of piping they need. Apprentices confidently complete this skill under supervision. Monitoring visit: Hybrid Technical Services Limited, 22 and 23 September 2022 The apprenticeship meets the needs of employers’ businesses. Electrical employers with contracts to install power in outbuildings required apprentices to terminate specific cables. Apprentices learned the skill in the workshop and then became

p.3

Reasonable progress

experienced, under supervision, at work. Skills coaches do not set sufficiently challenging targets for apprentices. Skills coaches review the progress that apprentices make on their apprenticeship, but discussions are overly positive. They do not always identify areas for improvement or areas that require further practise. As a result, apprentices’ targets focus too much on the completion of milestone knowledge.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Apprentices receive effective ongoing careers advice and guidance. Trainers provide information to apprentices about their next steps, such as moving on to university. Guest speakers talk to apprentices about the wider opportunities available to them in the sector. Apprentices learn about job opportunities linked to wind farms, solar power and other forms of green energy. They visit specialist exhibitions and large employers, such as a nuclear power facility. Leaders focus advice on apprentices’ current employer and industry. This includes careers topics as part of apprentices' personal development curriculum, such as starting a business. Leaders do not help apprentices understand how the skills they develop during their apprenticeship will support them if they wish to progress to different careers. Leaders discuss future career plans with apprentices at the start of their programme. However, they do not use this information to systematically plan individualised advice

p.4

Reasonable progress

and guidance. Monitoring visit: Hybrid Technical Services Limited, 22 and 23 September 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 and child protection.

p.4

Reasonable 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

Reasonable 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

Reasonable progress

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

p.5

Reasonable progress

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

p.5