Following an inspection which took place in November 2019, North West Ambulance Service has received an overall effectiveness rating as good by education regulator, Ofsted.

The trust started to offer apprenticeships in May 2017 and currently has 251 apprentices on standards based apprenticeships. Two hundred and forty follow the associate ambulance practitioner (AAP) apprenticeships and standard based apprenticeship at level 4, and seven follow the emergency services contact handler (ESCH) standards based apprenticeship at level 3. Overall 400 staff have been recruited through apprenticeships.

The development of behaviour and attitudes and the personal development of apprentices were both rated as outstanding in the trust with quality of education, leadership and management and overall apprenticeship programmes were rated as good.

The inspection report highlighted many positives, including; leaders have implemented an effective training programme, tutors plan training in a logical way and apprentices receive good support from practice based educators, just to name a few.

The report also stated that apprentices want to be the best they can be to provide the best possible care for their patients and service users. An apprentice quoted within the report said: “When you put on your uniform, it changes you, you feel a sense of pride.”