BRITISH ACCREDITATION COUNCIL INSPECTION REPORT College
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BRITISH ACCREDITATION COUNCIL INSPECTION REPORT College Reaccreditation Inspection INSTITUTION: Orion Pax Institute ADDRESS: 45-51 Market Square Edmonton Green London N9 0TZ HEAD OF INSTITUTION: Dr Eugene Mgbemere DATE OF INSPECTION: 30 April and 1 May 2015 ACCREDITATION STATUS AT INSPECTION: Accredited DECISION ON ACCREDITATION: Reaccreditation to be awarded for the full four-year period. Decision on accreditation deferred. Accreditation to be withdrawn. Date: 9 Jul 2015 Page 1 of 17 PART A - INTRODUCTION 1. Background to the institution Orion Pax Ltd (OPL), a company limited by guarantee, was established in 1997. The company originated from Orion Green, established in 1992/3, which occupied smaller premises in Edmonton Green. OPL's Management Board comprises its founder, who is Managing Director and also Principal/Chief Executive of Orion Pax Institute, and two other Directors. There is also a Management Committee overseeing strategy as well as day-to-day operations. The Principal/CE acts as both Chair and Secretary of the Board with authority to manage the college as appropriate, keeping the Board members informed of key actions/issues. Orion Pax Institute (OPI or the Institute) is also linked with the long established UK Ethnic Minority Partnership (UKEMP). The premises are made available to UKEMP and other local community organisations, for meetings and related activities, as space permits, especially during the evenings and weekends. OPI has long established working links with the London Borough of Enfield (LBE) Skills for Work Service and, as a provider partner, Barnet and Southgate College. OPL also has links with the College of Haringey, Enfield and North London (CONEL), Capel Manor College and Middlesex University. Regular contacts are maintained with several local community based organisations, with whom collaborative training projects are being delivered, often linked with external funding, ie. Enterprise Enfield, CBEN and 5E Ltd. During 2010/2011, OPL was a delivery partner for the former Future Jobs Programme with the nationally based 3SC (Third Sector Consortium). Good working relationships are maintained with Job Centre Plus, LBE Job and Careers Advisory Services and Childrens and Adult Services. Operating on a not-for-profit basis, OPI is an independent community College of Further Education and Training provider, running programmes for adults and young people, largely from the local Edmonton and Enfield areas. A high proportion of OPI's learners live locally, with many originally coming from places such as Somalia, Sudan, Congo, Ghana, the Caribbean, Asia, Turkey and Eastern Europe, many of whom are asylum seekers and refugees. 2. Brief description of the current provision Both accredited and non-accredited programmes are provided, from basic, pre-entry or level 1 through to more advanced, (levels 3-4), largely part-time, over short or longer periods (ie. from two days to one year), in response to identified needs and demands. OPI is an approved centre by various awarding bodies, for example, CACHE (Council for Awards in Care, Health and Education), NCFE and Pearsons EDI, to deliver courses in Health and Social Care, Childcare and Early Years, IT and Communication Technology, Conflict Management, English for Speakers of Other Languages, Functional Skills, First Aid, Food Safety, Award and Certificate in Education and Training, and Employment Skills. Integrated pastoral care, support, mentoring, coaching and information advice and guidance is provided along with additional learning support. Visits to, and placements with, local employers are organised for the work-based programmes of study. During the summer months, short courses in English are offered to international students. During the first few years of operation, 600-700 learners were catered for, but the numbers have been reduced to 300-400 a year, all part-time students. As well as offering stand-alone courses, OPI also runs special projects and programmes, usually in conjunction with partner organisations, aided by external funding. Recent examples include projects funded through the UK Government and European Social Fund/European Refugee Fund, Cabinet Office/Big Lottery and Awards for All, Home Office/UK Border Agency and Department for Work and Pensions, along with the LBE. OPI operates from its premises within Edmonton Green Shopping Centre, on the first floor, directly above the Market and is easily accessible via stairs or a lift, with a variety of shops, cafes and other facilities close by, with good transport facilities and public car parks. Up to 90 learners can be accommodated at any one time and there are additional conference and IT facilities. OPI is in the process of setting up a day care facility, Orion Balcony Nursery ( a separate company), located two doors away, in order to offer flexible childcare and early years provision at special rates for their learners with children aged up to five years. Page 2 of 17 3. Inspection process The inspection was conducted over two days by one inspector. All documentation relating to management, staffing, administration, teaching, learning, assessment, student welfare and premises, health and safety was scrutinised. Six class observations were conducted. Interviews were held with the Principal and the Management Committee Member (OD/Quality), Academic Manager, Heads of Departments, Administrators, Examination Officer, Tutors, Assessors, the Student Welfare Officer, and the Systems and Resources Coordinator. 4. Inspection history: Inspection type Date Full Accreditation 27-28 Sept 2010 Supplementary 24 Mar 2011 Interim 11 Jun 2012 Page 3 of 17 PART B - JUDGEMENT AND EVIDENCE The following judgements and comments are based upon evidence seen by the inspector(s) during the inspection and from documentation provided by the institution. INSPECTION AREA - MANAGEMENT, STAFFING AND ADMINISTRATION 1. The institution is effectively managed 1.1 The management structure is clearly defined, documented and understood, including the Yes No role and extent of authority of any owners, trustees or governing body. 1.2 The head of the institution and other senior managers are suitably qualified and Yes No experienced, understand their specific responsibilities and are effective in carrying them out. 1.3 There are clear channels of communication between the management and staff. Yes No This standard is judged to be: Met Partially Met Not Met Comments There are very experienced and highly skilled managers with strong links within the sector and the local communities, and a clear organisational chart. There is a good organisational learning and developmental plan with clear indicators on the performance appraisal scheme. Minutes of meetings confirm clear and good channels of communication between staff and management. 2. The administration of the institution is effective 2.1 Administrators are suitably qualified or experienced and understand their specific Yes No responsibilities and duties. 2.2 The size of the administrative team is sufficient to ensure the effective day-to-day running Yes No of the institution. 2.3 The administrative support available to the management is clearly defined, documented Yes No and understood. 2.4 Policies, procedures and systems are well documented and effectively disseminated across Yes No the institution. 2.5 Data collection and collation systems are effective. Yes No This standard is judged to be: Met Partially Met Not Met Comments Meetings and supervisory documentation held by administrators confirm continuous monitoring and review of policies and systems. Records indicate ongoing audit, monitoring and review of maintained data and other records, including for commissioning partners such as LBE, and Barnet and Southgate College. Administative staff are experienced in completing audit documentation. 2.5 However, the Institute needs to review its data collection and collation systems, taking into account commissioning partners' requirements, in order to be able to use this information to plan and review courses and services. Page 4 of 17 3. The institution employs appropriate managerial and administrative staff 3.1 There are appropriate policies and effective procedures for the recruitment and continuing Yes No employment of suitably qualified and experienced staff. 3.2 Experience and qualifications claimed are verified before employment. Yes No 3.3 There is an effective system for regularly reviewing the performance of staff. Yes No This standard is judged to be: Met Partially Met Not Met Comments Recruitment and selection guidelines, policies and processes are robust, with DBS checks conducted on all members. Reviews are undertaken by management with plans to ensure that development and training actions from these inform Individual and organisational learning and developmental needs. 4. Publicity material, both printed and electronic, gives a comprehensive, up-to-date and accurate description of the institution and its curriculum 4.1 Text and images provide an accurate depiction of the institution’s location, premises, Yes No facilities and the range and nature of resources and services offered. 4.2 Information on the courses available is comprehensive, accurate and up to date. Yes No This standard is judged to be: Met Partially Met Not Met Comments Publicity materials are accurate, up-to-date and relevant to current provision. Photos of events on social media, ie. visits conducted and the day out in Capel Manor Gardens are relevant. The website is being updated to achieve more