Day Centres for adults with learning disabilities and autism

Adults with learning disabilities

The ambition of our Day Centre and Community Support Service is to help individuals with learning disabilities and/or autism to achieve the greatest quality of life, which stems from:





  • Being as independent as possible - making or being involved in the decisions about how you lead your life, doing as much as you can by yourself, and feeling confident to try new things while knowing there is a backup if things don’t go to plan.
  • Stimulation and progression – engaging in meaningful activities that interest and motivate you, helping you develop new skills, build confidence, and reach your personal goals.
  • Social interaction - socialising with people with similar interests and being an active and included community member will help you form friendships and support networks that make your life safer and better.
  • Health and wellbeing – having easy access to information and guidance will make you aware of the lifestyle choices that can impact your health and wellbeing. Getting support and encouragement to eat a balanced diet, exercise, and keep up with routine medical appointments will help you maintain good physical health and mental wellbeing, allowing you to enjoy life fully.

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When you join ECL, we will work with you, your family, and anyone significant in your life to learn more about you, what you enjoy doing, and what you want to achieve. The time you spend with us will be tailored to your interests. The activities will help you to build independence, confidence, and self-esteem, extending social and support networks, and having fun!


Your support can take place within our day centres, or we can help you explore the opportunities and ways to get involved within your local community.

Genuine opportunities for people with learning disabilities and/or autism are often found within the local community. By engaging in social interests, hobbies, and work experiences near where you live, you will have a greater chance of making true friendships and developing your confidence and self-worth by feeling included.

In addition, regular opportunities to be involved with others who live close by will help you become an important part of your local community and extend your support network. When you join us at ECL, we will carry out a Community Profile with you to discover what activities you enjoy and will help you reach your goals.

We have people called ‘Community Connectors’ who will identify where those activities are in your neighbourhood and help you connect with them. Our team of Community Care Assistants will then support you in getting involved while building your confidence and encouraging you to become more independent.

On joining us at ECL, an experienced Trusted Assessor will work with you to create a person-centred plan to make sure that the time you spend with us is helping you to achieve your goals.

Our support workers will get to know you well and give you the right support on a day-to-day basis. You will have a key worker who will make sure that you and your family/carer if you’d like, feel fully involved in your support plan and to provide a listening ear. There will also be a management team and supervisors who oversee the day centre and community support service and are always on hand.

At ECL, we employ staff who are passionate about helping others, and we invest greatly in their training and development so that they have the skills they need to support you in achieving your goals. All our staff undergo mandatory training to ensure your support is safe and effective. In addition, there is a vast array of additional training and qualifications to meet the specific needs of the people they support. The list below is just a small selection of the staff training available:

Condition specific - Learning Disability, Autism, and Sensory Awareness, Diabetes, Epilepsy

Care and Support – Active Support Awareness, Active Support Coaching, Care Act Eligibility, Person-Centred Care, Care Certificate

Health and Medication– Eating, Drinking and Swallowing levels 1-2 and Dysphaghia, Enteral PEG feeding, Safer Medication – Assessing Medication and Transcribing medication

Technology – TACPAC, OM Interactive, Integrex, Moment

Communication - Intensive interaction, Objects of Reference, Communication Awareness

Behaviour – Positive Behaviour Support, Crisis Prevention Intervention training (CPI)

Education – Level 3 award in education, ASDAN training,

Management – Leadership and Management level 3 and level 5

We are also fortunate in that we have our in-house clinical team who not only provide expert physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and positive behaviour support directly to our customers, but train and guide care staff in carrying out therapeutic plans on a day-to-day basis.

ECL’s highly skilled clinical team offers a range of therapeutic support and works alongside the day centre team to help you have greater independence and quality of life. Their expertise covers the following:

  • Physiotherapy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Positive Behavioural Support

If you require support from the clinical team, they will work with you, your family if appropriate, and any other relevant health and care professionals to understand your needs and desired outcomes. The clinical team will then create a tailored therapy plan and provide support and guidance to your day centre care team to ensure your plan is implemented effectively and consistently, and your progress is regularly reviewed.

You can find out more about our clinical team here

At ECL, we understand how powerful technology is in promoting independence, communication, and interaction, and we continuously research and introduce different technology forms to support our customers. We use digital interactive screens and mats like Omi and Integrex to stimulate interaction. We help customers with their communication aids to give non-verbal customers a voice, and with apps and devices such as Alexa and smart watches to support greater independence.

We are also constantly updating staff training so that they have the skills and confidence to support customers using technology.

If you already use technology in your daily life, tell us about it when we first meet you, and we will ensure that we are ready to support you when you join us.

We recognise that your learning is never complete, even once you have finished your formal education. We can support you in achieving your aspirations; for example, you may wish to gain a qualification, learn to manage your own money, take public transport independently, carry out domestic chores, or expand your social circle.

At ECL, we will create a programme of support that will help you to learn and practice the skills you want to gain. We will review your progress at least every six months to ensure your support plan is right for you. We even offer qualifications by ASDAN to recognise your new skills formally.

We use our Moment app to record your achievements and attach photographic evidence so that you can reflect on what you have achieved, and your family and friends can share and celebrate your special moments with you.

We all have a fundamental need to feel safe before we can succeed. At ECL, we take your safety very seriously and have a robust approach to keeping you safe in our day centres or community.

It is important to us that your support is led by you at your pace. Our staff are trained to assess the risks and safety; they will consult with you and those who support you to evaluate and limit the risks before starting any new activity or project.