Aspire

• About us
• Meet the team
• Contact us
• Getting to Aspire

About us

Aspire is the Leeds Early Intervention in Psychosis Service. We provide support for people who are or may be experiencing a first episode of psychosis.

We provide holistic care coordination to people in Leeds between the ages of 14 and 65 who are, or may be, experiencing their first episode of psychosis. Our team of professionals from a range of backgrounds offers mental health support in managing and making sense of people’s experiences, as well as support to families, friends and social networks in relation to those experiences. We also promote understanding of psychosis and unusual experiences, working in therapeutic, practical and creative ways with the people we support.

The primary aim of the service is to reduce the duration of untreated psychosis and support recovery, positive mental health, and wellbeing for all service users. Aspire can provide support for up to three years.

Meet the team

Aspire is a multi-disciplinary team made up of lots of different professionals such as:

Care Coordinators

Each individual supported by aspire will be allocated a Care coordinator, or if supported on the At Risk Mental State (ARMS) pathway an ARMS practitioner.

They are:

• The main point of contact throughout a person’s journey with aspire and help to make sure you have access to all the different types of support available such as medication options, social recovery activities, therapy, Physical health checks and Peer support
• They can provide emotional support to clients and their loved ones, and can help with practical things like liaising with housing support, work, school college or university.
• Care coordinators will see you regularly and will take the time to build trusting and meaningful relationships. They can also organise network meetings with people that are important to you.

Therapy Team

The therapy team is made up of Psychologists, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Therapists, Systemic Therapists (or family Therapists) and Drama therapists. They are trained to help people understand their difficulties and develop strategies to overcome or manage them to move in a positive direction.

The team can offer various types of therapeutic approaches such as CBT, or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Everyone at aspire is offered Therapy. The therapy team will also work with families and carers.
If you are interested in Therapy in aspire, your care coordinator can arrange a Network meeting with a member of the therapeutic team to get an idea of what you may wish to to change in your life and discuss possible therapy options.

Aspire Doctors

The Doctors at aspire are Psychiatrists, medical doctor who specialise in mental health. You will see a Psychiatrist soon after you join the service and they will meet with you at regular intervals during your support from aspire. Doctors are able to prescribe medication if you feel this would help, and they will discuss different treatment options with you. Support on the ARMS pathway does not involve meeting regularly with aspirer doctors.

Family and Friends Link worker

Aspire understands that it is vital that a person’s family, carers, support network and loved ones are offered support as part of early intervention for psychosis. We have a dedicated Family and Friends Link Worker who can offer support to carers, family and loved ones.

Find out more on Aspire’s family and carers support page.

Recovery Team

The Recovery Team is made up of recovery support workers, physical health workers and peer support workers. They can offer support to help develop or improve social relationships, increase purposeful activity and independence, reduce isolation and increase community participation. For more information, please visit the Aspire social recovery page.

Peer support Worker

Aspire has a dedicated peer support worker. They share similar lived experience of navigating a journey through support with their mental health. They can meet with you, one to one or as part of the recovery team group programme. They can help provide peer led support, build connection and trust, and offer practical recovery focussed support during your time supported by Aspire.

Admin Team

Aspire has an dedicated admin team that provides administrative support for the whole service. Alongside the aspire duty staff they help operate the aspire Duty telephone number and may be one of the first people that a person speaks to when they contact the service. They are friendly and understanding and will help to direct you to the right place or person when they speak with you.

The Aspire Duty number is 01132009170. It is open Monday to Friday 9am until 5pm.

Team Leaders/Managers

The Team Leaders provide managerial support for all staff, and supervision for Aspire workers. The Team Leader is responsible for ensuring that the team runs smoothly, safely and effectively. They also provide clinical leadership and are directly involved in multidisciplinary team decision making.

Contact us

We are open Monday to Friday 9.00am-5.00pm. You can call the Aspire Duty telephone number on 0113 200 9170 or email the the Aspire Duty Desk.

Getting to Aspire

This is the Aspire building viewed from Armley Road

Travelling from bus via Leeds City Centre

• From the Leeds City bus station at stand 14
• You need the number 14 bus travelling to Pudsey or the number 72 Travelling to Bradford
• Get off the bus on Armley Road opposite Pickering Street 36, 64, 142

See the location on Google Maps.