Employer-partners have a vital role to play in each learner’s apprenticeship journey. Modern apprenticeships require partnership working from the employer, tutor and the learner to enable the completion of a successful learner journey.
Learner Reviews
Each learner must complete a 10-weekly review with both their tutor, and an employer representative, throughout the duration of their qualification. This
process gives employers the opportunity to comment on both the progress of their staff, and the quality of training provided by our tutors.
During review sessions learners will be set a number of SMART targets, in line with the agreed course knowledge skills and behaviours. By setting targets during these sessions we can assure that learners are able to progress at the expected pace, learning invaluable skills that will help them to thrive in their roles.
Further information on knowledge, skills and behaviours can be found at:
- instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/adult-care-worker/
- instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/lead-adult-care-worker/
- https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/lead-practitioner-in-adult-care/
- https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/leader-in-adult-care/
Attendance
It is the employers responsibility to ensure that learners lines of communication are maintained with their tutor. In any instances of learners becoming unresponsive, or off-target, we may ask employers to intervene by contacting the learner, reminding them of their commitment to their apprenticeship.
Ofsted
In the event of an Ofsted inspection, employers may be required to complete online/telephone interviews expressing their views on our services. Likewise, Ofsted may also require access to employer premises to conduct face to face interviews and observe our tutors teaching practice.
It is import that, where possible, employers are available to complete these interviews and assist with any access issues, to help with the inspection process.
Employer questionnaires
Throughout the year employers may be asked to complete a number of questionnaires from outside bodies such as the Department for Education & Ofsted. These surveys provide vital data on our services and are part of our contracted requirements. Cooperation with these surveys is much appreciated and will help us to improve the service we provide.
Awarding Bodies/Subcontracting
As is the case with Ofsted visits, at any point during the year we may be subject to awarding body / partner-college audits. In the event of one of these visits we would greatly appreciate if employers co-operated with the quality analysist, allowing access to their premises for any interviews or observations of practice that may need to take place.
Off The Job Training (OTJT)
One of the many changes to apprenticeship delivery in recent years is the inclusion of OTJT. As part of each qualification learners must complete a minimum of 20% of their weekly working hours as OTJT. While this may initially sound daunting, we ensure that our employer-partners are not affected by this additional requirement and will work in partnership to develop OTJT plans, ensuring that learners complete this vital course element effectively and efficiently.
Learner Feedback Forums
As part of our robust feedback process we invite learners to take part in forums. These sessions take place throughout the academic year and allow our team to retrieve valuable feedback and suggestions that help us improve over apprenticeship services. We invite a selection of learners to each forum, and would appreciate the employer’s cooperation in these events where possible.
Partnership Working: Co-development of Curriculum
We believe that it is vital to include our employer-partners in the development process of our teaching curriculum. During bi-annual reviews with our Employer Engagement team, employers will have the opportunity to request that certain units or ways of teaching be implemented into our course curriculum.
Workplace Mentoring
Alongside tutor support, learners completing modern apprenticeship qualifications are assigned a workplace mentor. This mentor acts as a second point of call throughout the learner’s journey, providing any necessary additional support and guidance in-between tutor visits. Before enrolment, our employer engagement manager will work with the employer to help assign a mentor from within their organisation. We usually suggest that this mentor should be someone who works alongside the learner on a day to day basis, such as a senior, supervisor or care co-ordinator.
Risk Assessment
As part of our policies and procedures, we are required to carry out annual risk assessments of all of our employer-partners places of work. These are then filed and stored, in accordance to data protection legislation.
