A Brave New World:
Using the New Ofsted Framework on
DWP Inspections
Karen Adriaanse
March 2010
Aims of the session:
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receive an update on how the DWP provision will
be inspected and recent inspection findings
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review feedback from the consultation on revising
inspection methodology for inspection of DWP
provision
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consider how the Common Inspection Framework
2009 will be used on DWP inspections
The priorities in DWP provision
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Enabling people to fulfil their potential
over longer, more active lives
Providing customers with the services
they need
maximise employment and opportunity
for all (PSA Delivery Agreement 8)
tackle poverty and promote greater
independence and well-being in later
life (PSA Delivery Agreement 17)
DWP Contracted employment provision:
old and new prime contracts
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New Deal - old
Self-employment - old
Programme centre - old
Workstep – almost old
Provider-led Pathways (PLP)
ESF programmes matched with DWP funds
Flexible New Deal
Jobcentre Plus Support Contracts
Community Task Force
Work Choice
HMCI Annual report 2009:
Key messages on DWP provision
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Progression into employment has improved
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Increase in referrals – including from people who would not
previously have needed support
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64% of IAG is no better than satisfactory
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Major challenge for providers is how to support ‘revolving
door’ participants
Changes in commissioning has led to uncertainty for some
providers
The most successful providers are those that work
effectively with local employers
HMCI Annual report 2009:
Key messages on New Deal and Programme Centres
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Participants develop good skills to find work, and personal
skills
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Local employers benefiting from productive partnership
arrangements
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Vulnerable adults gaining from improved promotion and
application of equality of opportunity and safeguarding
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Narrow range and poor use of work placement opportunities
Insufficient use of work trials
Insufficient actions to improve the quality of provision
offered by subcontractors
Summary DWP grade profile
July 2007 to August
2009
New Deal
Programme
Centres
Workstep
Grade 1
2%
0%
1%
Grade 2
22%
16%
44%
Grade 3
61%
65%
45%
Grade 4
15%
19%
10%
59
31
71
Number of inspections
The Consultation on DWP
Contracted Employment
Provision
Learning from the past
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Ofsted must reduce multi-inspections of providers
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Ofsted needs to inspect against the aims of the different
programmes
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Inspections should focus more on evaluating the difference
training and support makes on participants’ chances of
sustained employment
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Ofsted needs good, up-to-date information about providers
to inform risk assessment and to use on inspection
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Ofsted and DWP need to link the Star Rating and the CIF
Inspections need to involve learners and employers more
The sector and inspectors need to identify and share good
practice
The results of the consultation process (1)
Three-month consultation – online process and face-to-face
events: 120 responses
Questions that received the highest level of support were about:
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the range of activities that inspectors will undertake to gather the
views of participants and other users
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that inspection should take more account of the capacity of the
provider to improve
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the range of activities that inspectors will undertake to explore how
well the provider engages with users to bring about improvements
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that inspectors should gather employers’ views during the
inspection of contracted employment provision?
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the proposals to revise inspection reports the range of indicators
used to prioritise inspection activity is appropriate
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that a gap of four years between inspections for high performing
providers is appropriate
The results of the consultation process (2)
Questions that received the lowest level of support were
about:
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a reduced notice period of three weeks for the
inspection of contracted employment providers
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a telephone meeting will be an efficient way of preparing
for inspection within the three week notice period
The key proposals in brief
The requirement from DWP is one grade per
contract.
revised Common Inspection Framework 2009
annual risk assessment to bring forward/delay
inspections
have parallel inspections where more than one
contract is inspected at the same time
menu of inspection types, including focused
monitoring visits
The proposals in brief (cont’d)
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three-week notice, with telephone planning
meetings when agreed
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greater involvement of participants
greater involvement of employers
reports with recommendations
Using the Common
Inspection Framework
for FE and Skills 2009
Structure of grades
Overall effectiveness
Capacity to improve
Outcomes for participants
Enjoy and achieve
Quality of provision
Teaching, learning and assessment
Achieve economic and social
well-being
Meeting needs and interests of
users
Feel safe
Partnerships
Leadership and management
Ambition and prioritisation
Governance
Safeguarding*
Equality and diversity*
Be healthy
Care, guidance and support
Make a positive contribution
User engagement
Self-assessment
Main grades
Value for money
Contributory grades
*
These grades may limit the overall effectiveness grade
The end product – inspection report
Key features
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More specific text on the provider’s context
Summary report:
 grade profile
 main findings
 recommendations
 users’ views
Main inspection report
Record of main findings
Using the Common Inspection Framework
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Inspection Handbook for DWP Contracted
Employment Provision – Part 2
 Evaluative statements
 Further guidance
 Provision-specific guidance
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For self-assessment and inspection
 Contextualised
 Must be made purposeful and useful
Thank you
www.ofsted.gov.uk