Emotional Wellbeing Service

Mental Health Crisis Prevention Service Buildings Back Open!

We are pleased to announce that our Staying Well Space service buildings have reopened in all three locations – Brighton, Eastbourne, and Hastings, enabling clients to access our buildings to work independently on a self-care activity or project. Staff will be present to support clients should they require it.

Photo of two people sat on a sofa facing each other in conversation

New ‘Health and Wellbeing service’ opens in Brighton & Hove and East Sussex

Launching from late November onwards, the Health and Wellbeing Service is a social prescribing service, working in partnership with GP practices across East Sussex and Brighton and Hove and Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
The service will support people aged 18 or over who have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and psychosis, to improve their health and wellbeing following their free annual Physical Health Check (PHC) appointment. In East Sussex we will also support people to attend their PHC.

Artwork needed for Southdown’s Xmas ecard and 2022 Calendar – creative competition for Southdown clients and tenants

Last year, Southdown’s Christmas ecard (see above) was designed by clients in our Newhaven Supported Living Learning Disability Service following an invitation for clients across all of our Learning Disability Services to create a festive image.

Update on Home Works housing support contract in East Sussex

From the 23rd November 2021, the Home Works service we currently provide will transfer to BHT Sussex following their successful bid to provide a new five-year East Sussex Housing Related Support contract – a countywide housing-related floating support service for working age and older adults which will combine Home Works and the STEPS services run by Peabody and South East Independent Living Ltd.   

A fond farewell to our Deputy Chief Executive as she moves onto new ventures

After 25 years at Southdown, Vikki Hayward-Cripps, our Deputy Chief Executive, has decided to move onto new ventures and will sadly be leaving Southdown today at the end of this week, on the 22 October.
Neil Blanchard, our Chief Executive, has worked alongside Vikki at Southdown for 20 years.

New ‘Substance Misuse Employment Service’ opens in East Sussex

Launching on 1st October 2021, the Substance Misuse Employment Service will support people receiving community treatment for drug and alcohol dependence who are unemployed and living in East Sussex.
The service is provided in partnership with Change Grow Live, and funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Stable employment is a key factor in reducing the effects of substance misuse on individuals, their families and local communities. This is achieved by:

Top 30 Family Friendly Employer

We are delighted to say that for the ninth year running, Southdown has been named in the top 30 Best Employers for Working Families.

‘Good’ CQC rating for our Supported Living Learning Disability Services

Prior to the covid-pandemic, we were required to register our 26 Supported Living learning disability services as single services with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rather than grouped as one entity. As a result, each service needs to be individually inspected.
Following a hiatus due to the pandemic, the CQC has now inspected three of our services over the past nine months, all of which have been rated as ‘Good’.

Investors In People – GOLD!

Investors in People is the international standard for people management, defining what it takes to lead, support and manage people effectively to achieve sustainable results. Underpinning the Standard is the Investors in People framework, reflecting the latest workplace trends, essential skills and effective structures required to outperform in any industry. Investors in People enables organisations to benchmark against the best in the business on an international scale.
The Assessor gathered information from the survey sent to staff and several individual interviews.

Enrolment is open for Brighton & Hove Recovery College’s Summer Term

Brighton and Hove Recovery College, offer educational courses as a route to recovery from mental health challenges. All their courses are FREE and designed and delivered by people with lived experience of mental health challenges, together with clinical staff and other professionals.
The College is provided in partnership with the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and as part of the Community Roots network of mental health support.