Franhen Consultancy Ltd

Franhen Consultancy Limited Monitoring visit report

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

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Inspection dates: 28 and 29 February 2024

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: 73 Francis Road Edgbaston Birmingham B16 8SP Monitoring visit: Franhen Consultancy limited, 28 and 29 February 2024

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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

Franhen consultancy limited is an independent learning provider based in Birmingham. It provides standards-based apprenticeships in health and social care for apprentices working in Birmingham and Leeds. At the time of the visit, there were 15 apprentices studying level 5 leader in adult care. All apprentices were over 19 years of age.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders do not ensure that the curriculums are appropriate and ambitious for apprentices. Initial assessment activities do not identify apprentices’ prior knowledge and skills accurately. Apprentices follow the same curriculum, irrespective of prior qualifications and experience. Too few apprentices develop substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders do not ensure that apprentices have appropriate workplace mentors. Too many mentors do not work directly with apprentices, they do not have an appropriate understanding of apprentices’ job roles or the apprenticeship standard. As a result, apprentices are not provided with workplace activities to support their development.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders have not been effective in the quality assurance of the apprenticeship programme. They have not assured themselves of the quality of the training that apprentices receive, both at work and in education. As a result, leaders are not aware of all areas for improvement and do not plan for these effectively.

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Insufficient progress

Governance arrangements have very recently been strengthened. Those responsible for governance have started to provide helpful support to leaders. While there are early signs of positive impact, it is too soon to judge the full effectiveness of these arrangements. Monitoring visit: Franhen Consultancy limited, 28 and 29 February 2024 Leaders rightly recognise the current shortage and skills crisis within the health and social care sector. Consequentially, they offer apprenticeship courses that aim to meet the national shortage of leaders and managers in this sector.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders do not plan a curriculum that targets the specific skills and knowledge that apprentices need. They focus too much on completing units of qualifications and not on the development of the essential knowledge, skills and behaviours that apprentices need in their current or future job roles.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders have not developed a well-planned curriculum to support apprentices who require English and mathematics functional skills qualifications. Apprentices do not receive sufficient teaching prior to taking examinations. Too few apprentices receive the support that they need to succeed in English and mathematics.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders do not plan and coordinate on- and off-the-job training for apprentices well enough. Training plans are generic and do not provide apprentices with a range of well-planned activities to complement their learning. As a result, too many apprentices are behind on their programme and are unable to link their off-the-job learning and on-the-job performance.

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Insufficient progress

Tutors have high levels of subject knowledge and expertise. However, they do not use this to ensure apprentices develop a sound knowledge and understanding of topics. Apprentices do not have appropriate opportunities to revisit or practise what they learn. As a result, too many apprentices cannot recall key concepts.

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Insufficient progress

Tutors do not use effective assessment strategies to check apprentices’ understanding before moving on to new topics. They do not use the information from assessment to identify gaps in apprentices’ knowledge and address misconceptions. Tutors are too slow to rectify the gaps in apprentices’ knowledge, skills and behaviours. As a result, too many apprentices are behind with their course.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and tutors do not have high enough expectations of their apprentices. They do not challenge apprentices to produce written work to a high enough standard. Too often, tutors accept written work that is descriptive and lacks the level of detail expected at level 5. As a result, apprentices do not produce appropriate standards of written work. Monitoring visit: Franhen Consultancy limited, 28 and 29 February 2024

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Reasonable progress

Leaders take their safeguarding responsibilities seriously and prioritise the welfare and safety of their adult apprentices. They have developed a comprehensive policy with a clear focus on safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty and ensure the designated safeguarding lead and deputy are appropriately trained.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have developed a suitable ‘Prevent’ duty risk assessment that takes account of the key risks that the provider and apprentices may experience. However, this does not take into account localised risks for apprentices who live outside of Birmingham.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have implemented appropriate record-keeping and timely support arrangements in the event that any safeguarding referrals are made. They have systems and processes in place to ensure that they respond to safeguarding referrals swiftly. The designated safeguarding lead tracks and monitors the actions effectively and keeps detailed records of the interventions made. Apprentices feel safe when attending the provider site and know how to raise concerns. Monitoring visit: Franhen Consultancy limited, 28 and 29 February 2024 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

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Reasonable progress

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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