Enter and view: Aspire Day Centres
Summary of report content
Healthwatch Leeds carried out announced Enter and View visits to Aspire Respite Care day services between August and September 2025 following feedback from Leeds City Council. The purpose of the visits was to understand the experiences of people using the services, their relatives, and staff, and to identify good practice and areas for improvement. Four Aspire day services were visited: Technorth Family Learning Centre, Pudsey Leisure Centre, Rothwell Fulfilling Lives Service, and Hillside Enterprise Centre. To read the report visit this page.
Overall, the day services were found to provide a welcoming environment where customers appeared well cared for, happy, and supported by staff who demonstrated strong person-centred values. Activities were consistently identified by customers, relatives, and staff as the most positive aspect of the services, particularly opportunities for socialising, creative pursuits, physical activity, and meaningful daily routines. Rothwell Fulfilling Lives Service stood out for its purpose-built facilities, use of visual communication tools, and tailored support for customers with complex needs.
Most customers and relatives reported feeling safe at the day centres, and staff expressed confidence in safeguarding practices and training. However, some safety concerns were identified, including inconsistent visitor sign-in procedures, minor building maintenance issues, and occasional uncertainty about customers’ whereabouts in shared public spaces. These issues were noted as requiring attention to ensure consistent standards across all services.
Staff were widely praised for their kindness, respect, and understanding of customers’ individual needs. Customers and relatives reported strong relationships with staff and high levels of involvement in care decisions through regular support plan reviews and open communication. Nevertheless, some staff reported pressures caused by staffing shortages, reliance on agency staff, and increased administrative workload, which they felt could negatively affect care quality.
The report found that Aspire’s services broadly met the Accessible Information Standard by using easy-read support plans and personalised communication approaches. However, gaps were identified, particularly in access to British Sign Language support and the inconsistent use of pictorial signage and communication tools outside Rothwell. Improving communication support for deaf customers and expanding the use of visual aids were highlighted as key priorities.
Healthwatch Leeds made several recommendations, including maintaining strong person-centred care and engaging activities, improving accessibility through better signage and visual tools, strengthening staffing and induction processes, and ensuring staff feel supported when raising concerns. Aspire responded positively to the findings, accepted the recommendations, and committed to prioritising improvements within the limits of available funding.
The report will be shared with Aspire, Leeds City Council, and the Care Quality Commission, and Healthwatch Leeds plans to follow up to ensure that agreed actions lead to meaningful improvements in service delivery.