Dentrain Professionals Ltd

Further education and skills inspection report

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Inspection of Dentrain Professionals Ltd

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Inspection dates: 17 to 20 September 2024

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Good Apprenticeships Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Requires improvement

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Information about this provider

Dentrain Professionals Ltd is an independent learning provider located in Bolton, Greater Manchester. It provides training for people who work in the dental sector.

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Information about this provider

At the time of the inspection, there were 97 apprentices in learning. Of these, 44 apprentices were aged 16 to 18 and 53 apprentices were aged 19 or over. All apprentices study the level 3 dental nurse (integrated) apprenticeship standard. Around two thirds of apprentices are based in dental practices in the North West of England. The remainder are employed in the West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, South West, East of England and the North East, Yorkshire and Humber regions.

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Information about this provider

The provider does not subcontract any of its provision. 17 to 20 September 2024

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

Apprentices develop the knowledge, skills, and professional behaviours that they need to be successful in dental nursing. Their attendance at training sessions is high. This is because trainers and employers set clear expectations. They help apprentices to understand the importance of adhering to regulatory standards and principles.

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

Apprentices value the support that they receive from their trainers. Trainers use information about apprentices’ starting points to determine one of three support pathways. This means that apprentices with no previous experience of dental nursing, and those who need to achieve their English or mathematics qualifications, receive additional training. Where apprentices fall behind in their studies, trainers and employers ensure interventions are put in place swiftly to help them to catch up.

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

Apprentices are supported to reflect and improve their practice further. They develop their resilience when they encounter barriers to their progress. Most apprentices who remain on their apprenticeship achieve.

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

Apprentices are safe in their places of work and when working online. Trainers help apprentices to be aware of how to identify scam emails and how to use social media safely. Apprentices understand the importance of whistle-blowing in their industry to protect patients and staff. They feel confident and able to challenge inappropriate practices should these arise. However, apprentices do not have a secure understanding of the dangers of radicalisation or the risks local to where they live and work.

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better?

Leaders are registered dental nurse practitioners. They are acutely aware of the challenges that employers face in recruiting trainee dental nurses. Leaders offer the dental nursing apprenticeship to help meet a national skills shortage. They offer flexible start dates to ensure that trainee dental nurses can commence their training quickly to meet dental regulatory requirements.

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better?

Trainers sequence the topics of the apprenticeship in a logical order. Apprentices learn about health and safety and infection control before they enter dental surgeries. They learn about anatomy, health assessments and simple treatments such as scale and polish before learning about more complex dental treatments, such as root canal procedures and medical emergencies. Trainers revisit earlier topics so that apprentices recognise the importance of applying safe practices in the workplace.

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better?

Employers are committed to optimising the progress that apprentices make. They attend reviews of their progress and contribute to the planning of on- and off-the- job training. Where apprentices need to improve their communication with patients, 17 to 20 September 2024

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employers organise for them to work in practice receptions. Apprentices communicate with patients in dental surgeries once they have honed their communication skills.

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Trainers are highly skilled with significant experience of working in the dental nursing industry. They use their expertise to teach apprentices to develop the substantial new knowledge, skills, and behaviours that they need to be dental nurses. Apprentices learn about pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria and factors that can contribute to infection. They are taught how to sterilise equipment using a Bowie-Dick test in steam sterilisers, how to decontaminate equipment, and the timescales for storage. Apprentices use this knowledge in the workplace where they operate vacuum autoclaves and help keep equipment sterile.

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Trainers help apprentices to develop the English and mathematics skills that they need to be proficient in their work. Apprentices learn how to use technical language accurately, such as ‘proximal caries’ to describe tooth holes between teeth, and ‘anterior’ and ‘posterior’ to describe the front teeth and back teeth. Trainers teach apprentices how to interpret the Stephan curve to indicate the effect of eating and drinking sugar on pH levels in the mouth. Apprentices develop their confidence and precision in using dental terminology and mathematical principles throughout the apprenticeship.

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Trainers’ use of assessment in sessions is inconsistent. Where it is used well, trainers identify misconceptions quickly and help apprentices to further develop their understanding. In a few instances, trainers’ use of questioning is superficial and does not help apprentices to identify or remedy errors.

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Since the previous inspection, leaders and trainers have revised how apprentices are prepared for their final assessment. Apprentices now attend revision sessions with trainers that focus on areas for improvement for the individual. The number of apprentices passing their final assessment first time has increased and is now high. Achievement is significantly above the national rate.

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Apprentices benefit from comprehensive careers guidance. Trainers teach apprentices about the benefits of dental practices employing qualified sedation nurses to reduce patient treatment wait times. They provide opportunities for apprentices to develop their knowledge of oral health further. Apprentices are aware of specialist roles and potential career pathways, such as opportunities to study oral hygiene and the role of oral hygiene therapists. They are prepared well for their next steps.

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Leaders and trainers provide opportunities that enable apprentices to explore their interests in wider health and health education, such as facial aesthetics and nursing. However, they do not provide apprentices with opportunities to develop their broader interests.

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Leaders have recently introduced ‘hot topics’ to raise apprentices’ awareness of fundamental British values and radicalisation. However, these are not yet sufficiently 17 to 20 September 2024

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embedded. Apprentices are not able to recall fluently how these topics relate to their wider lives and work.

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Leaders use appropriate quality processes that help them to determine strengths and rectify areas for improvement. They use clear and appropriate mechanisms to detect underperformance and to provide support to help staff to improve. The quality of training that apprentices receive has improved significantly since the previous inspection.

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Leaders and governors have rectified the weaknesses identified in the previous inspection. Governors now have defined roles with specialisms in the dental sector. They have sufficient oversight of the quality of training that apprentices receive. Governors use activities such as telephone calls to apprentices and employers and visits to apprentices’ sessions to check that leaders continue to improve apprenticeship provision.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Improve trainers’ use of assessment in sessions to support apprentices to identify any misconceptions swiftly.  Ensure that apprentices have a clear understanding of radicalisation and risks local to where they live and work.  Develop opportunities for apprentices to discover and develop their talents and interests. 17 to 20 September 2024

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Provider details

Address Bridge Place Rear of 22 Bridge Street Bolton BL1 2EA

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Provider details

Principal, CEO or equivalent Michelle Porter

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Provider details

Provider type Independent learning provider

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection 28 to 30 June 2022

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Provider details

Main subcontractors None 17 to 20 September 2024

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the company director, 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

Zoe Ibbotson, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Rick Fothergill Ofsted Inspector Suki Dhesi Ofsted Inspector 17 to 20 September 2024

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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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