Enter and view: Aspire Respite Services

Healthwatch Leeds carried out announced Enter and View visits to Aspire Respite Services between July and August 2025 after receiving feedback from Leeds City Council. Aspire provides both planned and emergency respite care for people with learning disabilities across several sites in Leeds, including Scott Hall, Raynel, Farfield and Crossheath, offering short‑term residential support to give carers temporary relief while supporting customers’ independence. 

Overall, the accommodation across all services visited was found to be clean, well maintained and accessible, with clear pictorial signage and adaptations to support people with complex needs. Customers generally appeared well cared for and spoke positively about staff, activities and food, while relatives highlighted the benefit of respite care in promoting customers’ independence and giving families a much‑needed break. 

Most customers and relatives felt that the quality of the service had remained consistently good over the previous year, but a significant proportion of staff felt the service had worsened. Staff concerns focused on high staff turnover, reliance on agency workers, reduced training quality and loss of continuity following management changes, although many acknowledged that new management was starting to improve the service.

The services were found to be complying with the Accessible Information Standard, with support plans tailored to individual communication needs and the routine use of easy‑read materials, visual aids and health passports. Customers and relatives valued staff’s use of visual communication, particularly for non‑verbal customers, although some relatives felt this practice needed to be applied more consistently.

Most customers, relatives and staff agreed that Aspire generally provides a safe environment, and staff reported receiving safeguarding training. However, some relatives raised serious concerns about medication management, supervision outside the service and the risks associated with unfamiliar agency staff. Staff also highlighted challenges in maintaining safety due to staffing shortages and limited training for complex needs.

Care and support were widely praised, with most customers and relatives describing staff as kind, respectful and person‑centred. Issues were mainly linked to agency staff, who were sometimes unfamiliar with customers’ needs, leading to feelings of insecurity or inadequate support. Staff demonstrated a strong commitment to respecting customers’ choices and promoting dignity and wellbeing. 

Customers generally had choice over meals and dietary needs were usually well managed, including support for medical and religious requirements. Nevertheless, some relatives reported inconsistencies depending on staffing, such as missed meals or dietary needs not being followed at certain sites. 

Activities were valued by customers but were limited by staffing levels and customer fatigue after attending day centres. While staff attempted to offer activities and outings, all groups agreed that a wider and more consistent range of activities would be possible with increased staffing. 

Most customers and relatives felt involved in care decisions and knew how to raise concerns, but some relatives reported poor follow‑up communication after issues were raised. Staff said they generally felt supported to act on feedback, although feeling undervalued and understaffed was a recurring concern. 

Healthwatch Leeds recommended maintaining good practice around cleanliness, accessibility, food choice and person‑centred care planning, while prioritising improvements to staff induction, training, medication management, staffing levels, communication with families and staff wellbeing. Aspire welcomed the findings and committed to working with Healthwatch to address the issues identified.