EmpowerHouse Ltd

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: EmpowerHouse Ltd 1 EmpowerHouse Ltd Registered provider: EmpowerHouse Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

This service is owned and managed by a private provider. It offers accommodation for up to 42 looked-after children or care leavers in seven shared or group-living premises.

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provider

At the time of this inspection, the service was providing support for 10 children aged 16 and 17.

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provider

The registered service manager and the nominated individual have both been in their respective roles since the service registered with Ofsted.

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provider

Inspection dates: The inspection was announced on 7 July 2025 and commenced off site on the same day. The inspectors were on site on 9 and 10 July 2025.

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Outcome

Inconsistent quality of service delivery adversely affects some children’s experiences, and this may limit their progress. Leaders and managers must make improvements.

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Outcome

The next inspection will take place approximately 18 months after this inspection.

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Summary of findings

A monitoring visit was carried out on 10 March 2025. All the requirements raised at the visit have been met.

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Summary of findings

Children live in well-kept homes, and they work together with staff to keep them clean. However, a consistent approach is not maintained in the decoration of the homes’ communal areas, and there is a lack of safe storage space in children’s bedrooms.

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Summary of findings

Some matching processes for children moving into the homes lack sufficient scrutiny. While some children make progress, others are adversely affected because their Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: EmpowerHouse Ltd 2 needs are not appropriate for supported accommodation, resulting in unplanned placement endings.

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Summary of findings

Children’s education and future aspirations are supported by staff. Children attend college and are supported in acquiring independent living skills, preparing them for adulthood. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: EmpowerHouse Ltd 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Generally, children and staff take pride in their homes. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and reflect their religious beliefs, interests and backgrounds. However, the presentation of the homes’ communal areas lacks consistency. This includes noticeboards and parts of the walls displaying instructions and house rules, which detracts from a homely feel. Children’s bedrooms do not have secure storage spaces for their valuables. This does not enable children to keep their belongings safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

A friendly and inspiring staff team supports the children. Staff use a non- judgemental and kind approach to encourage children to explore their goals and ambitions. Staff carefully help children identify their skills and support them in developing these as a means of preparing for adult life. Children who aspire to become fashion designers, footballers, doctors and mechanics respond well to the support from staff and take time to invest in their futures.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children are helped to develop independence skills. Staff use daily planners to guide children in carrying out tasks such as cooking, travelling independently using public transport, budgeting and shopping. As a result, children acquire essential life skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Most children are in education, employment or training. Staff promote children’s educational needs. Managers and staff ensure that children enrol in education and attend college. This allows children to interact positively with others, make friends and understand the importance of education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children participate in various activities individually and with staff. They enjoy life- changing experiences both through the service and in the community. Children and staff enjoy activities at home, such as barbecues and bowling. They celebrate occasions such as birthdays, Christmas and other religious events. Children also independently attend football clubs and the gym and visit friends and family.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff help the children identify ways to stay safe. They engage in reflective discussions with them to help them make safer choices. The staff educate children about risks and how to stay safe at home and in the community.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff clearly record incidents, but managers do not add their oversight to these records consistently. This means that records do not accurately reflect the assessments that are being completed. Leaders and managers hold extensive discussions in meetings and supervision sessions to review safeguarding issues concerning children. Effective multi-agency work is carried out to ensure children’s safety at home and in the community. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed, which further supports children’s safety. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: EmpowerHouse Ltd 4 Some children still go missing, and others breach legally stipulated curfews. Staff engage in in-depth discussions to help children understand the consequences of breaching curfews and the dangers they may face in the community.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children trust staff and share stable relationships with them. They discuss how they are feeling and express their concerns. When children struggle emotionally, staff work alongside mental health professionals and other agencies to explore effective support measures. Staff respond in a nurturing and compassionate manner.

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How well children are helped and protected

Some actions taken by staff, such as locking away knives and cleaning products, hinder children’s development of adult skills, such as their ability to make safer day- to-day choices and self-regulate emotions.

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How well children are helped and protected

Leaders and managers do not always adhere to safer recruitment processes. Thorough checks are not always carried out before staff commence employment, and some leaders have access to children’s information and premises without the required checks, such as relevant and up-to-date police checks. This compromises children’s safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Managers maintain a nurturing and friendly culture in the service. They have positive aspirations and expectations for the support delivered to children and share this vision with a committed staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers do not have up-to-date policies, including the safeguarding policy, to guide effective practice. Some policies refer to the use of practice models for which staff have not received training, while others provide guidance on the use of audio surveillance systems in the homes. This results in inconsistent practice and support for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff and managers receive regular supervision. Supervision sessions are effective and well structured. Managers and staff reflect on personal and professional experiences and explore ways to support development and address identified issues. As a result, staff feel listened to and valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers provide staff with opportunities to learn and develop. All staff are up to date with mandatory training. Comprehensive training and development opportunities are offered to support staff in delivering good-quality support to children. Staff undertake diploma courses and other training relevant to children’s current needs. This ensures that staff constantly develop their knowledge to support and meet children’s needs effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Some matching decisions for children moving into the homes lack scrutiny. Although some children make progress and develop positive relationships with staff, this poor oversight has affected other children’s placements and resulted in unplanned endings. This is due to leaders and managers accommodating children who are not yet ready to live in supported accommodation. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: EmpowerHouse Ltd 5 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: EmpowerHouse Ltd 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023 and the ‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the supported accommodation undertaking that puts children first and prioritises their wellbeing and development.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that arrangements are in place to manage referrals of children to the supported accommodation undertaking and admissions of children to premises used as supported accommodation, including, where relevant, emergency referrals and admissions;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each child is fully aware of their entitlements throughout the duration of their placement in supported accommodation, including—

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Requirement Due date

what they can expect from the provision of supported accommodation. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(f)(h)(i)) 28 August 2025

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Requirement Due date

The accommodation standard is that children experience a comfortable and secure living environment.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child individually and all children collectively;

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Requirement Due date

The accommodation standard is that children experience a comfortable and secure living environment. 28 August 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: EmpowerHouse Ltd 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used as supported accommodation—

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Requirement Due date

are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child individually and all children collectively;

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Requirement Due date

are suitable for the purposes of supported accommodation and are accessible, safe, secure and well-maintained;

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Requirement Due date

offer a comfortable, positive and nurturing environment, while respecting children’s need for privacy;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each child is provided with a private bedroom—

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Requirement Due date

with sufficient space to accommodate a reasonable number of personal possessions;

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Requirement Due date

which is equipped to meet the child’s individual needs;

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Requirement Due date

which is physically secure. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(b)(v)(vi)(vii)(d)(i)(ii)(iv)) In particular, the registered person should ensure that all communal areas are homely and welcoming, that children have access to a lockable cabinet or drawers and that items to support independence skill are readily available to children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may permit an individual to start work for the purposes of providing supported accommodation or, as the case may be, for the supported accommodation undertaking, despite the fact that the requirement in paragraph (3)(d) has not been met if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person has taken all reasonable steps to obtain full information about each of the matters in Schedule 1 in respect of the individual, but the enquiries in relation to any of the matters in paragraphs 3 to 6 of that Schedule are 28 August 2025 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: EmpowerHouse Ltd 8 incomplete;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information in respect of the individual has been obtained in relation to the matters in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 1. (Regulation 17 (1) (3)(d) (4)(a)(b))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff have access to suitable policies that assist them in protecting children. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 54)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: EmpowerHouse Ltd 9

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: 35 Brookfield, Woking GU21 3AA

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Dhanlaxmi Gandhi

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Supported accommodation provider details

Email address: 12tudorgardens@empowerhouse.co.uk

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Inspectors

Alphie Khumalo, Social Care Inspector Daniela Ferrario, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: EmpowerHouse Ltd 10 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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