Homeserve Membership Limited

Homeserve Membership Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Nikki Brady, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: Aspect Business Park Bennerley Road Nottingham NG6 8WR Monitoring visit: Homeserve Membership Limited 14 and 15 March 2023

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Context and focus of visit

Ofsted undertakes to carry out monitoring visits to all newly directly funded providers of apprenticeship training provision funded 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

Homeserve Membership Limited (Homeserve) is an independent training provider based in Nottingham. The company has been established for over 25 years and started offering apprenticeships in September 2020. They teach level 3 gas engineering operative standard in a purpose-built training academy. Homeserve provide apprenticeship courses for a number of small businesses in addition to their own employees.

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Context and focus of visit

At the time of the visit, there were 56 apprentices studying level 3 gas engineering operative standard. The majority of the apprentices are adults, with three apprentices under 18 years of age. A small number need to study mathematics and English qualifications alongside their apprenticeship.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have undertaken extensive survey work within the sector to review skills gaps, and they work closely with small businesses to understand their needs. Using their expertise in gas, along with training their own staff, they work with small businesses well to strengthen and develop their workforce.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that apprentices benefit from high-quality physical resources and appropriate workplace settings, for example access to a home simulation suite. As a result, apprentices are able to develop their trade skills in a safe environment, using industry standard equipment.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors are extremely knowledgeable and use this well to provide apprentices with clear explanations and demonstrations of topics. Tutors use their substantial vocational experience to relate theoretical concepts of workplace practice and to answer apprentices’ questions well. Monitoring visit: Homeserve Membership Limited 14 and 15 March 2023 Leaders ensure that the principles and requirements of the apprenticeship are followed. Commitment statements are used well. They outline the requirements of the course and clarify the roles and responsibilities of all parties.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and tutors have strong and effective relationships with employers. Tutors provide frequent progress reports to employers. However, formal arrangements for meeting employers and monitoring apprentices’ progress in the workplace are not fully developed.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have not yet secured appropriate arrangements for apprentices completing final assessments. As a result, most apprentices are behind with completion dates. Plans are currently in place to support these apprentices in their preparations for assessment. For example, apprentices attend monthly sessions to recap information and complete mock assessment activities. However, at the time of the visit, no apprentices had completed their final assessments. Therefore, it is too early to judge the impact of these arrangements.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders recognise the benefit of an internal governance board. All board members are suitably qualified, with high levels of industry knowledge. They understand the strengths and weaknesses of the apprenticeship academy well, providing effective scrutiny and challenge through monthly meetings.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices develop a range of new skills and knowledge as a result of well-planned tuition and through working with experienced workplace mentors. Most can recall clearly what they are taught and can explain how to apply their learning in the workplace.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have made suitable arrangements for off-the-job training. Apprentices attend the training academy one week out of every four, where they study in detail a suitable range of practical and theoretical subjects, using excellent quality resources.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and tutors develop expert skills in their apprentices and have thought carefully about the content of the curriculum and the order in which topics should be presented.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors provide apprentices with suitable tasks to complete in the workplace. These include written assignments and practical tasks. However, staff do not communicate the nature of these tasks to employers and workplace mentors well enough. Although Homeserve staff provide employers with details of the curriculum, they do not provide any training or support to help mentors to reinforce or complement what they teach apprentices in the academy. Monitoring visit: Homeserve Membership Limited 14 and 15 March 2023 Arrangements to support apprentices who need to gain functional skills qualifications are not sufficient. Staffing vacancies have impacted the teaching of functional skills and although managers are negotiating with a local college to provide this training, these negotiations have not yet come to fruition.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and tutors consider apprentices’ starting points carefully, making suitable adjustments to support their needs. Those with prior levels of knowledge are accelerated through the programme. Apprentices who need further support are provided with additional tutoring and course end dates are extended, allowing them more time to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed for industry.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices complete a well-planned range of written assignments and practical workplace tasks to ensure apprentices demonstrate their understanding and apply what they have learned. Employers are rightly satisfied with training standards, and they find leaders to be helpful and responsive.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors provide apprentices with helpful information, advice and guidance on their future career options. Apprentices benefit from monthly career mapping lessons covering topics such as ‘how to run your own business’ and ‘moving into management’. As a result, apprentices have a good understanding of how to develop their career.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders, managers and tutors take effective steps to ensure the safety and well- being of apprentices. Apprentices are well informed about arrangements for safeguarding and ‘Prevent’ through a comprehensive induction process and frequent communication with tutors.

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Reasonable progress

Managers carry out appropriate background checks on staff working with apprentices. All staff undertake annual safeguarding and ‘Prevent’ training.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors provide apprentices with detailed health and safety guidance. Safe working practices are strictly enforced, including the use of PPE during practical exercises.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices benefit from guidance on how to keep themselves safe when working in customers’ homes. They know how to identify hazardous environments and minimise risks to themselves. For example, how to respond to volatile customers.

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Reasonable progress

The designated safeguarding lead is suitably qualified. In the very few cases of safeguarding referrals, record-keeping is appropriate and timely support arrangements are in place. Monitoring visit: Homeserve Membership Limited 14 and 15 March 2023 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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Reasonable progress

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

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