Need to know
For #TeamEEAST Last updated: 18 May 2024 at 06:17
Medipro, our education provider for apprenticeships, has received an inadequate rating by Ofsted following an inspection in November.
The four-day inspection focused on learners who were passed planned end date (PPED) and many of these were in the group which had transferred from EEAST to Medipro in October 2021.
We have produced a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the report and its implications.
A: No – Apprenticeships will continue as normal and Medipro will work to support all learners toward an End Point. Many of the required areas for improvement had already been identified prior to the Ofsted visit and EEAST will continue to work with Medipro to ensure these are delivered.
Q: How do I raise a concern if I feel I am not getting the support needed from the Education Provider?
A: You should email apprenticeships@eastamb.nhs.uk to discuss with a member of the EEAST apprenticeship team.
Q: Should an apprentice be expected to work with another apprentices or a non-qualified clinician?
A: No – an apprentice should only work with a suitable qualified individual with the relevant clinical experience. At EEAST that means ALL level 3 and 4 apprentices should be scheduled with a qualified EMT or Paramedic at ALL times (including Overtime). All operational areas have been provided with scheduling guidance to support this. Any concerns about planned shifts should be raised to local management.
Q: I am an AEMT and want to progress onto the Paramedic Degree Apprenticeship, can I apply whilst waiting on my End Point Assessment?
A: Yes – providing you have been employed for 18 months by the time the Degree programme starts and complete and pass your EPA one calendar month before the scheduled start date of the Degree Programme.
Q: What options are there for band 3 staff to progress, getting onto an AEMT programme has been very difficult in the past.
A: From early 2023 onward EEAST plans to introduce internal only progression pathways at all levels. For Band 3 staff that will be progression to EMT roles, for band 4/5 staff that will continue to be the Paramedic Degree Apprenticeship and for registered staff there will be an increase in internal development to advance practice roles.
Q: Do the apprenticeship programmes delivered at EEAST include a sufficient volume of ‘Off the job’ hours to satisfy the funding rules?
A: Yes – All Apprenticeships delivered at EEAST previously had and continues to include significantly more than the minimum required ‘Off the Job’ hours. This volume of hours has been reviewed and agreed to be correct with staffside partners. (Unison and GMB).
Q: Who dictates the current ‘Off the Job’ hours within the apprenticeship provisions at EEAST?
A: Off the job hours within an apprenticeship provision are calculated by the education provider to meet the requirements of their specific programmes. EEAST as an employer commits to supporting these when entering a contract with a partner provider.
Q: Will level 3 / 4 learners who had return weeks cancelled during COVID receive these ‘Off the Job’ hours?
A: Yes – it is important to ensure parity across all cohorts. Learners who had return weeks cancelled or condensed have been identified and will be scheduled onto a return week in priority order. This will be balanced against abstraction impact and operational pressures. This recovery programme will start in Feb 23.
Q: Is there any consideration for the impact of the transfer to Medipro as a new provider and the delays on salary uplift and progression?
A: Yes – any apprentice delayed beyond the contracted 18-month period through no fault of their own will receive back pay of qualified salary – back paid to the 18 month point of employment on completion of the End Point Assessment*. This agreement has been in place since Dec 2021.
Progression – EEAST recruit to both AEMT and Degree Apprenticeship cohorts at regular intervals and staff can apply while awaiting End Point Assessment provided this will be completed one month before joining a new programme. As such, there is limited delays between EPA and opportunities to apply for progression. It must also be stated that onward progression is a competitive process and not an entitlement.
*provided that the learner did not have any significant breaks in learning e.g. long term sickness / suspension / maternity leave. In these instances, an adjusted expected end date will be used.
Q: What happens to transferred learners on paper-based portfolios who still require off the job support to complete the programme despite being provided with sufficient time?
A: The Education Provider (Medipro) requested all paper-based portfolios be submitted for review by 14/10/22. The progress review and outstanding elements will be identified and the learner will have a specific action plan to complete programme. If Medipro feel this requires additional Off the Job hours over the contracted level this will be reviewed and supported on a case-by-case basis.
Q: If you have failed my EPA, what are the next steps?
A: You will be provided with the feedback and recommendations of areas of revision by the End Point Assessment Oranisation (EPAO). A Medipro tutor will get in touch to go through prep before your resit. Once this has gone ahead, we will be ready to book in your EPA resit.
Q: Do I need to resit my full EPA again if I have failed?
A: No, just the part you failed on will need to be resit.
Q: Can EPA be done remotely?
A: No, your EPA cannot be carried out remotely. The only element of your EPA that can be carried out remotely is safeguarding resit.
Q: How do I apply for reasonable adjustments on EPA?
A: You should email Rachel.jackson@medipro.co.uk or tracy.trainer@medipro.co.uk with your requirements and evidence (assessment/report etc) and we will apply for reasonable adjustment for your EPA with the EPAO. Please note that there needs to be at least 30 working days’ notice before your EPA date.
Wednesday 11th January 2023