Empowered Living Ltd

Updated 24 December 2021

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

One inspector undertook this inspection.

Service and service type

Empowered Living is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and specialist housing.

This service provides care and support to people living in a ‘supported living’ setting, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

The service had a manager registered with the CQC. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service prior notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 18 November 2021 and ended on 29 November 2021. We visited the office location on 18 November 2021.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and health service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff including the registered manager and support workers.

We reviewed a range of records; this included one person's care records and two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were viewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at recruitment records, policies and reviewed information relating to the actions taken by the registered manager. We received feedback from three professionals who have worked with the service.

Updated 24 December 2021

About the service

Empowered Living is a domiciliary service caring for people living in their own homes. This included providing the 24-hour support at one supported living property. The service supports people who have a learning disability and / or autistic people in addition to those who required support due to their mental health needs.

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Staff received support and training in their role. We have made a recommendation about staff undertaking specialist training. The staff team understood people’s communication needs and liaised with professionals when required.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Records in this area did require further development. For example, mental capacity assessments had not always been completed and a record of consent was not in place.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. "Right support, right care, right culture" is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of "Right support, right care, right culture". There was a clear emphasis on encouraging independence, community engagement and choice. The registered manager operated in a person-centred way and led by example in this area.

Elements of the recruitment process were not robust. We have made a recommendation about the recruitment of new staff.

People gave us positive feedback about their experience of working with and being supported by Empowered Living. Staff understood what actions to take if they had concerns that somebody was at risk of harm. Identified risks were recorded and consideration given as to how these could be mitigated.

We received positive feedback about staff approach towards people. Staff spoke about people in a respectful way and were keen to promote their independence.

People received person-centred support and activities were tailored to their interests. No formal complaints had been received and the registered manager resolved any issues quickly and proactively.

The staff team were engaged with the visions and values of the service and were passionate about their role. The registered manager had an informal process of quality assurance and was actively involved in supporting people and regularly received feedback. The registered manager recognised that elements of their recording keeping needed to be more robust. The registered manager had a good understanding of best practice and promoted this amongst their staff team.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Why we inspected

The service was registered on 18 June 2018 and this is the first inspection.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.