We are proud of our reputation to act as an effective strategic partner, where our expert experience, business acumen and personal candour is recognised and helps the wider system development and transformation.

As well as our Chief Executive, Neil Blanchard (pictured above), Executive and senior leaders engaging as sector representatives in local and national forums and networks, we encourage and support other colleagues to take an active interest and participate in activities outside of Southdown.

Through all of our wider engagement, we are confident that we have an acute awareness and appreciation of the issues and themes that impact on the sectors we operate in. Even though we face multiple and complex challenges, it is this depth of knowledge that enables us to take immediate actions and plan effectively for the future.

Current focus areas

Aligned to our Business Strategy for 2022-27 and our value to be a ‘force for good‘, over the coming months and years we will build on our networking and lobbying activities to affect change for the best interests of the local communities we operate in across Sussex.

Fair funding for fair pay

Information on the disparity of pay for support workers versus NHS counterparts is highlighted starkly in the Unfair to Care report. The report also provides a first of its kind, in-depth analysis which debunks the myth of social care as a ‘low skilled’ profession.

Since 2020, we have been lobbying Sussex-based local authority commissioners of services for fair funding so we can pay our staff fairly for the amazing work that they do. Keep an eye on our news section of our website for updates on our lobbying efforts in this area.