Live Better Locations Limited

Live Better Locations Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Russ Henry, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection dates: 9 and 10 November 2022

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

Office 2–4 46–50 Rutherford Drive Park Farm Industrial Estate Wellingborough NN8 6AX Monitoring visit: Live Better Locations Limited, 9 and 10 November 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

Live Better Locations Limited is based in Wellingborough and began training apprentices in September 2020. It provides apprenticeships in housing and property management, mostly for social housing providers. At the time of the visit, there were 22 apprentices studying the level 2 housing and property management assistant standard, four studying the level 3 housing and property management standard, and seven studying the level 4 senior housing and property management standard.

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Reasonable progress

Managers have used their own extensive professional knowledge and experience to develop an apprenticeship offer that helps to fill a skills deficit in the social housing sector. They introduced a level 2 apprenticeship for housing and property management assistants in September 2020 and have recently introduced a level 3 course in housing and property management and a level 4 course in senior housing and property management.

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Reasonable progress

Courses fully meet the requirements of apprenticeship programmes. They include appropriate elements of on- and off-the job training and help apprentices to develop substantial new skills and knowledge. However, while all apprentices receive an appropriate amount of off-the-job training, plans for this training are not always clear or detailed enough.

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Reasonable progress

Managers recruit apprentices with integrity. They provide clear initial advice and guidance that helps apprentices and employers to select the right course. Level 2 apprentices are new entrants to the sector and follow a rigorous programme that develops their skills and knowledge well. Level 3 and level 4 apprentices are usually existing employees of social housing providers. Managers assess their prior Monitoring visit: Live Better Locations Limited, 9 and 10 November 2022 knowledge and experience to ensure that they will benefit substantially from courses, occasionally referring apprentices to a higher or lower level.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers only work with employers who commit fully to apprenticeships. These employers understand the training requirements of courses and consistently release apprentices for off-the-job training. Trainers work well with apprentices’ line managers to ensure that apprentices have appropriate opportunities to develop their skills in the workplace. However, they do not plan this aspect of training from the beginning of courses.

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Reasonable progress

Managers have made appropriate arrangements for end-point assessments. All apprentices who have undertaken these assessments have passed, and a minority have gained distinction grades. Almost all apprentices remain in employment at the end of their studies.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have carefully aligned the curriculum to the professional standards of the housing sector and have embedded well-recognised qualifications within courses. Trainers present material in a logical sequence that helps apprentices to develop a clear understanding of the sector before introducing specialist knowledge.

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Reasonable progress

Teachers are experienced and well-qualified housing professionals. They use their knowledge well to provide apprentices with examples of current issues and best practice. They use workbooks, reflective journals and a variety of assessments to supplement teaching. However, managers and trainers have not developed an explicit plan that details how all aspects of training and assessment fit together.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices develop substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours that they learn to apply at work. Trainers meet frequently with apprentices’ line managers to review apprentices’ progress and to ensure that they are provided with opportunities to develop their skills through workplace activities such as shadowing colleagues.

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Reasonable progress

Managers have recognised that arrangements for helping apprentices to complete functional skills qualifications in English and mathematics have not been entirely satisfactory. They have taken action to improve matters and current apprentices will undertake online learning activities, supported by specialist tutors. However, it is too early to judge the impact of these changes.

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Reasonable progress

Managers have implemented several procedures to assure the quality of training. They undertake lesson observations, review lesson plans and study materials, and check the suitability of assessment activities. The effectiveness of these actions varies. For example, reviews of assessment briefs are clear, accurate and helpful, Monitoring visit: Live Better Locations Limited, 9 and 10 November 2022 whereas lesson observations do not evaluate why particular approaches did or did not work. As a result, observation reports provide little information that teachers can use to improve their practice.

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Reasonable progress

Managers have developed satisfactory policies and procedures that provide guidance on staff recruitment and conduct, and on dealing with safeguarding concerns and disclosures. They have produced a suitable ‘Prevent’ duty risk assessment and action plan. However, they recognise that they need to work more closely with other agencies to increase their knowledge of local and regional safeguarding risks.

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Reasonable progress

The designated safeguarding lead (DSL) and deputy DSL have an appropriate understanding of their roles and are suitably senior. All staff, including the DSL and the deputy have undertaken appropriate safeguarding training. The DSL responds appropriately to the very few safeguarding concerns that arise, but does not always record actions and outcomes as thoroughly as they might.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices work in a sector where they are likely to encounter a range of vulnerable people, and managers ensure that they develop a clear understanding of safeguarding at the very beginning of their studies. Monitoring visit: Live Better Locations Limited, 9 and 10 November 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.

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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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