Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Helen Flint, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection dates: 14 and 15 December 2022

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Address:

Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital Barrack Road Exeter EX2 5DW Monitoring visit: Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, 14 and 15 December 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 Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Trust (the Trust) gained its own contract for apprenticeships in April 2021. It continues to use other providers to train clinical and non-clinical apprentices across the Trust, as it did prior to April 2021. There are 17 adult apprentices studying on the level 3 apprenticeship standard in team leading at the Trust. Just under half of these started their apprenticeship in 2021 and are currently preparing to sit their end-point assessments (EPA). The remaining apprentices started their course in October 2022. Apprentices are mainly based in Exeter, although a few are in East or North Devon.

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Reasonable

Leaders and managers have carefully selected an appropriate apprenticeship programme based on the needs of the Trust and that matches their team’s expertise. The Trust also benefits as an employer from other apprenticeships, such as clinical healthcare apprenticeships, through local providers with experience of teaching and managing those programmes. This balance of experience, and the good working relationships between the Trust and their provider partners, helped managers to successfully start their own apprenticeships in team leading.

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Reasonable

Managers provide useful and suitable training so that tutors can teach apprentices the behaviours, skills and knowledge they need. Tutors have completed, or are working towards, assessor and teaching qualifications. Tutors studied a level 3 coaching and mentoring course so that they could teach this knowledge to apprentices. Managers ensure that staff undertake frequent update training in safeguarding, ‘Prevent’ duty and equality and diversity. Managers and staff liaise effectively with other providers and apprenticeship networks to keep up to date with apprenticeship information. Monitoring visit: Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, 14 and 15 December 2022 Managers and tutors consider carefully the prior experience, knowledge and qualifications of apprentices. They recruit existing Trust staff who are ready to develop their management skills and who will benefit the most from the

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Reasonable

apprenticeship. As a result of their apprenticeships, apprentices gain new knowledge and skills that they apply confidently in the workplace. For example, they apply different management styles to support and manage their teams.

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Reasonable

Trust managers were initially slow to include functional skills qualifications for the few apprentices who need these. From October 2022, tutors from Southwest Association of Training Providers Ltd have taught apprentices functional skills in mathematics. The second cohort of apprentices have not yet started their functional skills lessons for English and mathematics because of a lack of tutors. This has recently been resolved, and these lessons are planned for January 2023.

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Reasonable

Leaders and managers rightly recognise the need to further develop a more systematic approach to quality assurance and governance to ensure a greater focus on the quality of apprenticeships.

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Reasonable

Leaders and managers have developed a bespoke curriculum appropriate for apprentices working in a variety of healthcare settings across the Trust. This provides apprentices with new behaviours, knowledge and skills that they use to become more effective managers. The course content is sequenced effectively. For example, a qualification in coaching and mentoring is included early in the course to help apprentices better understand how to manage and support their teams. Senior leaders from across the Trust share insight of their work to widen apprentices’ understanding of how the Trust works and what issues senior leaders regularly encounter. Around half of the first cohort of the first apprentices have already gained promotion because of studying their apprenticeships.

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Reasonable

Managers and tutors liaise effectively with apprentices’ line managers to ensure that apprentices are developing the required skills and knowledge at work. As a result, apprentices’ line managers know what their apprentices are learning and what topics are planned next. Consequently, line managers know how to support apprentices with on-the-job training in the workplace. Because tutors review the progress of apprentices frequently and very thoroughly, apprentices and their line managers are aware of how well apprentices are doing in their studies and where they need help to improve.

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Reasonable

Tutors are experienced and well qualified. They use their expertise in the healthcare sector well to teach apprentices. Tutors provide detailed feedback to apprentices on Monitoring visit: Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, 14 and 15 December 2022 the quality of their assessed work and written work so that apprentices know how to make improvements.

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Reasonable

Managers have not ensured that all apprentices develop further their English and mathematical skills appropriately if they already hold level 2 qualifications. Tutors help apprentices to improve and apply their digital skills.

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Reasonable

Apprentices and their line managers understand what to expect during the EPA. While some apprentices are due to take their EPA in early 2023, not all are yet ready.

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Reasonable

The Trust has several managers, including senior leaders, who are qualified as designated safeguarding leads. Managers responsible for apprentices’ safeguarding are appropriately qualified. They use the expertise of more senior leaders when required and liaise well with external agencies. Managers monitor the few safeguarding and well-being concerns of their apprentices well.

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Reasonable

Managers’ policies to keep apprentices safe are comprehensive, and the Trust meets safeguarding legislation requirements, including when recruiting new staff.

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Reasonable

Apprentices feel safe and valued in their workplace and know who to contact if they have any concerns. They know how to recognise signs of radicalisation because tutors discuss these with them. They can identify causes for concern in patients’ behaviour and are clear on how to report these. Staff teach apprentices about potential local risks and discuss these with them frequently. Monitoring visit: Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, 14 and 15 December 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

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children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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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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