Cipher Medical Consultancy Limited

Cipher Medical Consultancy Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Chloe Rendall, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection dates: 27 and 28 November 2024

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: 5 Limeoak Way Portrack Lane Stockton-on-Tees TS18 2LS Monitoring visit: Cipher Medical Consultancy Limited, 27 and 28 November 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

Cipher Medical Consultancy Limited is an employer provider that delivers apprenticeships for the ambulance emergency and urgent care support sector. There are currently six apprentices on the level 3 emergency care assistant (ECA) and fewer than five apprentices on the level 4 associate ambulance practitioner apprenticeship. All apprentices are aged over 18 and are employed by the provider at their main centre.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders offer apprenticeship programmes that meet the staffing needs of the NHS and independent ambulance services in the north east of England. They deliver well- organised apprenticeship programmes that provide a suitable training route for employees working in assistant and associate ambulance roles. This ensures that, as an employer provider, it retains key staff who develop the necessary competencies required of ambulance personnel.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have taken effective actions over the past year to improve weaknesses identified in the design and implementation of apprenticeship programmes. They have revisited curriculum content to ensure it is well planned and teaches apprentices the necessary theory and practical skills that they need in their roles. As a result, the few apprentices who had fallen behind on the level 3 ECA programme are now progressing quickly to gateway and end-point assessment.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders recruit qualified staff who maintain their knowledge and skills through working as practicing paramedics, ambulance drivers and clinicians. They ensure that staff new to teaching roles undertake teaching qualifications and are supported with further development of their teaching craft. For example, educators who have significant experience of driver instructor training provide mentoring support for new driver trainers. They help trainers to teach apprentices to drive ambulances safely Monitoring visit: Cipher Medical Consultancy Limited, 27 and 28 November 2024 under ‘blue light’ conditions.

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Reasonable progress

Staff responsible for assuring the quality of training have a well-developed understanding of apprenticeship provision. They hold leaders and managers to account well to ensure that apprentices make at least expected progress from their starting points. For example, the chief executive officer meets weekly with managers to understand the progress that apprentices make. Staff with responsibility for the quality of training provide appropriate challenge to leaders in relation to addressing any weaknesses in the provision, so that apprentices develop the new knowledge, skills and behaviours that they need to move into sustainable careers.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and educators plan, sequence and deliver on- and off-the-job training effectively in response to the knowledge and skills gaps that apprentices have. For example, when apprentices need to develop more confidence in the use of electrocardiogram (ECG) equipment during shifts on an ambulance, educators revisit this in their next off-the-job session. Apprentices refresh their understanding and practise their skills in the simulation suite before they next go on duty and then use ECG equipment on patients.

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Reasonable progress

Educators enable apprentices to develop substantial and occupationally relevant new skills and knowledge. They use a range of learning and assessment strategies well to help apprentices commit new concepts to their long-term memory. For example, when educators demonstrate clinical practice using a stethoscope, they then observe apprentices applying this new learning during an ambulance shift to assess their level of competency. When apprentices struggle to gauge a correct heart rate using a stethoscope, educators correct apprentices’ use of technique. Apprentices act on the feedback provided and, as a result, improve their practice.

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Reasonable progress

Managers and educators carefully monitor the progress that apprentices make. They use information from weekly tutorials to identify apprentices who may need additional support to help them succeed. For example, when apprentices sustain physical injuries which prevent them from working on ambulance shifts, educators adapt training and tailor learning plans accordingly. As a result, these apprentices continue to make progress towards their end-point assessment.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers successfully promote a culture of safeguarding and protection. They have suitable policies and procedures in place that provide staff Monitoring visit: Cipher Medical Consultancy Limited, 27 and 28 November 2024 with sufficient guidance on how to raise safeguarding concerns. The designated safeguarding lead is appropriately qualified and uses their knowledge to take appropriate actions in the very few instances when staff raise safeguarding concerns.

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Reasonable progress

Staff inform apprentices of the potential risks to be aware of when on duty, such as attending incidents where firearms are suspected and when a person demonstrates aggressive or violent behaviour. Apprentices know how to keep themselves and colleagues safe when on shift and when attending on-site training. Monitoring visit: Cipher Medical Consultancy Limited, 27 and 28 November 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 and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding

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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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