His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC)

Further education and skills inspection report

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Inspection of His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC)

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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 Good Leadership and management Good Apprenticeships Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Requires improvement

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Information about this provider

HMRC became an employer apprenticeship provider in 2017. At the time of the inspection, there were 124 apprentices, who are all adults. All apprentices study the level 4 counter fraud investigator standards-based apprenticeship. Apprentices work in offices of HMRC across the country.

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Information about this provider

At the start of their studies, apprentices attend a 20-week training course. They are taught by course directors and syndicate leaders (trainers) from the central counter fraud academy team. Apprentices attend training in Royal Leamington Spa, their office and online. After this, they return to their offices and are allocated a practical training officer (PTO).

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Information about this provider

A very small number of apprentices study functional skills with a sub-contractor partner, Capita PLC. 17 to 20 September 2024

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

Most apprentices successfully develop the technical skills they need to be counter fraud investigators. After the initial full-time 20-week training course, apprentices soon apply what they learn to live cases at their offices. They quickly and competently start to produce warrants, undertake searches, make arrests, and see their cases through to court.

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

Trainers and PTOs provide apprentices with beneficial instruction and guidance. They use their extensive experience to give detailed explanations and design useful activities. For example, apprentices undertake a high-quality case study on charities fraud. It helps them to understand how to investigate suspects, execute search warrants, organise searches and complete the chain of evidence. Apprentices are rightly positive about their training. They take pride in their work and want to be successful in their roles.

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

Apprentices can access a wide range of valuable health and well-being guidance. This includes an employee assistance helpline, a cycle-to-work scheme and mental health resources. Apprentices know how to access these services, and those who use them find them supportive.

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

Apprentices understand how to keep themselves safe at work and who to contact for support. They know what to consider when dealing with the public and visiting residential addresses.

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better?

Leaders offer an apprenticeship programme that aligns with their expertise and organisational priorities. Since the last inspection, they have made positive changes to resolve most areas for development. For example, leaders took swift steps to improve the arrangements for apprentices to study functional skills in English and mathematics. As a result, more apprentices pass these qualifications on their first attempt.

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better?

Leaders plan a comprehensive curriculum that includes the key knowledge that apprentices need to be successful in their roles. Staff carefully consider how they teach each topic. For example, when apprentices learn about search warrants, they first gain a good grasp of the essential principles. They go on to understand how warrants are executed, learn how to secure one and carry out application exercises. As a result, back at their offices, apprentices can quickly work on, and contribute to, live investigations and cases.

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better?

Leaders have suitable processes for apprentices to disclose any additional learning support needs. Staff respond to these needs appropriately and make adjustments for apprentices. For example, apprentices with dyslexia benefit from access to voice recognition software. 17 to 20 September 2024

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Trainers teach courses well. They provide well-structured lessons that help apprentices develop the knowledge that they need. Trainers use effective simulated activities such as role plays, collecting witness statements and mock room searches so that apprentices can apply their theoretical learning.

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In most cases, PTOs receive useful information about apprentices’ progress during the 20-week training. PTOs use this information well to organise apprentices’ on-the- job training. For example, apprentices will experience different investigations at other offices or role-play situations they need more exposure to. However, a very few apprentices do not benefit from enough guidance from their PTO. As a result, apprentices have to rely on guidance from their team or line manager.

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In the main, trainers and PTOs check apprentices’ knowledge through effective practical exercises, questioning and progress reviews. They use the outcomes of these activities to inform further what they teach, or to offer extra support. Most apprentices produce work to an acceptable professional standard and act on feedback to improve their practice. As a result, the quality of their work improves over time.

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Leaders rightly identified that apprentices were not being prepared well enough for their final assessments. They made several beneficial changes, including recruiting a dedicated support team and providing useful online resources and training sessions. However, this remains a work in progress, the arrangements for the completion of portfolios are still unclear for a few apprentices.

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A high proportion of counter fraud investigator apprentices pass their courses and a substantial proportion attain distinction grades. Historical low achievement rates of apprentices relate to courses that leaders ceased to offer in 2022.

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Leaders provide an appropriate careers programme for apprentices. This includes helpful guidance on the roles and progression opportunities within counter fraud, HMRC and the wider Civil Service. Apprentices can access independent careers guidance should they need it.

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Leaders undertake suitable activities to assess the quality of apprentices’ experiences. This includes useful surveys, a data dashboard and audits. They use the outcomes of these activities to set relevant improvement actions, which they swiftly act on. However, leaders do not have clear enough approaches to identify, and respond to, the few weaker aspects of trainers’ teaching.

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Leaders and managers have well-considered governance arrangements. Internal and external members have the skills and experience they need to undertake their roles. The governor decision making group meets monthly. They suitably challenge leaders about the progress they make with any actions for improvement.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. 17 to 20 September 2024

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Ensure all apprentices benefit from a consistently high standard of support from their PTO.  Continue to improve the arrangements to prepare apprentices well for their final assessments.  Establish clear arrangements to identify trainers’ areas for development and respond appropriately to these needs. 17 to 20 September 2024

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Provider details

Address 1 Unity Square Nottingham NG2 1AW

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Website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisa tions/hm-revenue-customs

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Website

Principal, CEO or equivalent Paula Allerton

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Website

Date of previous inspection 7 to 10 June 2022

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Website

Main subcontractors Capita PLC 17 to 20 September 2024

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the counter fraud investigator apprenticeship lead, as nominee. Inspectors took account of the provider’s most recent self- assessment report and development plans, and the previous inspection and monitoring visit 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

Emma Woods, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Russ Henry His Majesty’s Inspector Jo Brodrick Ofsted Inspector Angela Twelvetree Ofsted Inspector Gareth Luke 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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