Empowered Living Ltd

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 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.