Lancashire Combined Fire Authority

Further education and skills inspection report

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Inspection of Lancashire Combined Fire Authority

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Good Apprenticeships Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Information about this provider

Lancashire Combined Fire Authority (LCFA) is an employer provider that offers apprenticeships in operational firefighting. Apprentices work in most of the 39 fire stations across Lancashire. At the time of the inspection, there were 84 apprentices following the level 3 operational firefighter apprenticeship. LCFA leaders subcontract the teaching of functional skills to a local college for those few apprentices who need to achieve English and mathematics qualifications. 5 to 7 July 2023

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices maintain a highly positive attitude to learning and to their work. They speak of how much they love their job and how they want to make a difference to the communities they serve. Apprentices are motivated to learn and to gain the substantial new knowledge and skills required to become a competent professional firefighter.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices are active members of their community. They recognise that in their role as professional firefighters, particularly when they visit peoples’ homes and businesses, they become the eyes and ears of the community. They understand their responsibility to report any concerns they have regarding vulnerable people or potential threats. Leaders ensure apprentices are trained in supporting older residents who have dementia. Although residents may initially refuse the fire service entry to fit a smoke alarm, apprentices are able to calm residents down and explain the importance of installing a fire alarm.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices and employers report substantial gains in confidence. They are able to engage with members of the public more effectively and are more vocal during incidents. They have also developed leadership qualities when hosting visits to their fire stations from groups such as the Brownies and conduct road safety awareness sessions in schools.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Staff at all levels of the organisation promote the importance of health and safety as an essential aspect of the job. Apprentices know how to keep themselves and others safe and how to report any concerns.

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better?

Leaders and managers offer apprenticeships as an essential workforce development opportunity. They ensure they provide an ambitious programme of learning and development. This supports leaders to develop apprentice firefighters to be the best they can, to identify future talent and achieve their strategic purpose of helping to make Lancashire safer.

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better?

Apprentices benefit from a structured and coherent learning programme. Managers spend the first week of training ensuring that apprentices understand the values that are so important to the fire service. Apprentices spend the next 16 weeks in a training centre to acquire the core knowledge, skills and behaviours. Managers then place them in fire stations to put their learning into real-life practice. Trainers sequence the curriculum in a logical order with topics building in terms of complexity. Apprentices start with team building activities and complete initial modules in fire safety. They then move on to more complex modules such as breathing apparatus. The training team reviews and updates the curriculum to include learning from local and national incidents such as the Grenfell Tower inquiry and the Manchester Arena terrorist attack. 5 to 7 July 2023

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Leaders are aware that they need to support apprentices and their line managers more effectively when they move from the initial training stage to the fire station. This is so apprentices better understand what to expect on the station and line managers have a more rounded understanding of apprentices’ capabilities.

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Trainers are knowledgeable and professional firefighters with several years’ experience in the sector. Trainers have, or are working towards, at least a level 3 teaching qualification. They also have assessor qualifications. Trainers do not receive sufficient ongoing professional development related to teaching. Although apprentices report that most training is highly effective, they report some inconsistencies.

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Apprentices are aware of the demands of their final assessment and what they need to do to complete this. Managers precede this a few months earlier with an in-service ‘Gateway’ competency assessment that helps apprentices to prepare. Apprentices produce work of an appropriate standard, but the amount of detail provided within their write-ups varies significantly. Managers provide apprentices with guidance on how they could improve if they do not meet the standard required for the task. However, in some cases, line managers’ feedback does not consistently capture apprentices’ priorities for improvement or provide them with individualised targets.

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Apprentices develop significant new knowledge and skills while on their programme. They know how to use stabilisation struts in road traffic accidents to prevent any further harm to car passengers, fire and ambulance crews. Apprentices make valuable contributions to the running of the station. Employers appreciate their apprentices and the work that they are doing.

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Apprentices achieve very well. Almost all pass their final assessment on their first attempt. Leaders place a particular emphasis on identifying and then supporting apprentices who have additional learning needs, so they are as successful as their peers. However, too few apprentices achieve distinction grades. All those apprentices who have completed so far have secured permanent employment at the service. A few have already been promoted to crew manager.

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Leaders and managers provide a well-resourced training environment with suitable teaching facilities. They ensure effective practical environments for domestic and commercial firefighting and teach apprentices to use breathing apparatus safely. Apprentices behave consistently well, in line with the strict behaviours necessary in dangerous situations. Apprentices demonstrate consistently high levels of respect for each other. Much of their work is in teams and they fully respect the contributions from each team member.

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Apprentices complete additional training and develop broader experiences beyond their programme. In stations near large water expanses, apprentices complete training on boats for swift water rescue; other stations do rope rescue. Apprentices keep themselves fit and healthy. They are provided with a fitness plan that includes diet and nutrition and strength and conditioning exercises. 5 to 7 July 2023

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Apprentices attend guest speaker sessions from a range of services to develop their knowledge and skills beyond the curriculum. For example, the Fire Fighters Charity discusses traumatic situations and how apprentices can stay mentally and emotionally fit and well.

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Apprentices understand the importance of fundamental British values and the importance of treating people with respect and tolerance. They are very aware of the dangers of radicalisation and extremism. They know the signs to look out for in their community visits such as households with large amounts of chemicals or extremist logos and leaflets.

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Most apprentices receive information about potential next steps and relevant career advice. Apprentices learn about the different job roles available in the fire service, such as urban rescue, and the different promotion pathways such as crew manager and station manager.

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Managers have a realistic understanding of their main strengths and areas for improvement. They know what they need to do to continue to improve the quality of the training they provide for apprentices. Although quality assurance processes have been revised and improved, these are not yet comprehensive enough to cover all key aspects of the apprenticeship.

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Those responsible for governance understand their roles. They know the apprenticeship curriculum in appropriate detail and monitor the progress apprentices make. They hold managers to account for improving the quality of training and the progress apprentices make.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders have created a strong culture of safeguarding. They have appointed a suitably qualified designated safeguarding lead and four deputies. Trainers explore safeguarding issues with apprentices at the start of their programme. Managers have put in place a range of support arrangements for their apprentices.

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Safeguarding

Leaders have in place a comprehensive suite of policies and procedures to help them safeguard apprentices. All staff undertake appropriate safeguarding and 'Prevent' duty training. This is well contextualised to the fire service so that employees have a sound understanding of risk and they are trained to recognise radicalisation, associated behaviours and how to report their concerns.

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Safeguarding

Apprentices know how to keep themselves and others safe. 5 to 7 July 2023

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Leaders should consider how they can support apprentices and line managers more effectively when apprentices transition from the initial training stage to their designated fire station. This may help apprentices to have a better understanding of what to expect and give line managers a more rounded understanding of apprentices’ capabilities.  Leaders should ensure that trainers receive sufficient ongoing professional development about teaching so that apprentices receive a consistently high standard of training.  Leaders should work with apprentices’ line managers to ensure that their feedback to apprentices capture apprentices’ individual priorities for improvement.  Leaders and managers should implement a more comprehensively rigorous quality assurance process that covers all key aspects of the apprenticeship. 5 to 7 July 2023

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Provider details

Address Fire Station Garstang Road Fulwood Preston PR2 3LH

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Provider details

Principal, CEO or equivalent Karon Taylor

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Provider details

Main subcontractors Blackpool and The Fylde College 5 to 7 July 2023

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the learning and development officer, as nominee. Inspectors took account of the provider’s most recent self-assessment report and development plans, and the previous inspection report. The inspection was carried out using the further education and skills inspection handbook and took into account all relevant provision at the provider. Inspectors collected a wide range of evidence to inform judgements, including visiting learning sessions, scrutinising learners’ work, seeking the views of learners, staff and other stakeholders, and examining the provider’s documentation and records.

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Inspection team

Helen Whelan, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Liz Greenhalgh Ofsted Inspector Bob Busby Ofsted Inspector 5 to 7 July 2023

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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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