There’s more to a job at Southdown than the work itself
We are Southdown, a Sussex-based not-for-profit organisation providing housing, mental health, learning disability, and employment support.
For more than 50 years, we have worked alongside people as they build stability, confidence and connection in their lives. Today, we support thousands of people across Sussex, including people looking for a safe place to live, support with their mental health, help into employment, and learning disability support that enables more independence, choice and belonging.
We work closely with local authorities, the NHS, commissioners, voluntary sector partners and community organisations to make sure support is joined-up, accessible and centred around the people we support.
As people’s needs change, our work continues to grow, with a focus on breaking down barriers and helping people access the right support at the right time.. Over the coming years, we will keep building on our purpose: joining up support, expanding access to safe homes, enabling independence, and strengthening Southdown so we can support more people across Sussex.
0
People supported each year0
Services across Sussex0
Years experienceOur values in practice
Our values guide how we work with clients, tenants, families, colleagues, partners and communities.
They shape our decisions, our relationships and the way we respond to changing needs:
Force for good
We want to make a positive difference in people’s lives. We focus on people’s strengths and potential, not just the challenges they may be facing.
Brilliant with people
We aim to be compassionate, inclusive and welcoming. We want people to feel respected, listened to and able to be themselves.
United
We work best when we work together. We build strong relationships with clients, tenants, colleagues, local authorities, the NHS, voluntary sector partners and communities, so support feels more connected.
Trustworthy
We act with integrity and transparency. We want people to feel safe with us, know what to expect and trust that we will do what we say.
Responsive
We listen, learn and adapt. People’s needs and circumstances change, so our support needs to be flexible, thoughtful and shaped by real experience.
Choose your path:
Commissioning Southdown
Local Authorities, NHS, and Housing Developers. Strategic alignment, financial resilience, and proven social value.
Make a referral
Social Workers, GPs, Mental Health Teams. Streamlined pathways for Housing, Mental Health, and Learning Disability services.
Partnerships & policy
VCSEs, Policy Makers, System Leaders. How we champion the voluntary sector and shape system change across Sussex.
Is there a risk to life?
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, has taken an overdose, or has a life-threatening injury:
Support through crisis, recovery, and into work
We support people across Sussex facing mental health challenges.
Our Staying Well Crisis Cafes offer safe, welcoming spaces where people can drop in without a referral.
We work closely with the NHS as part of local Neighbourhood Mental Health Teams, and lead the UOK network — a partnership of 23 community organisations across Brighton & Hove and East Sussex.
At Southdown, we believe everyone deserves support that helps them feel safe, be well, and live the life they choose.
That belief shapes everything we do, and how we work together.
We are a Sussex-based not-for-profit delivering housing, mental health, and learning disability services. We work with local authorities, the NHS and community partners to create services that are responsive, inclusive and grounded in the real lives of the people we support.
For over 50 years, we’ve worked alongside people, communities, and partners to make a real difference. Today, over 1,000 colleagues work across Southdown – supporting people in local communities and helping services run smoothly behind the scenes. Together, we help create safety, opportunity, and belonging for thousands of people every year.
A wide range of roles
The work we do is varied, and so are the people who do it. At Southdown, you’ll find opportunities across:
- Housing and mental health services
- Learning disability support
- Peer support and lived experience roles
- Wellbeing and community-based programmes
- Property and compliance
- Digital and data
- Central functions like finance, HR, and communications
Some colleagues join with sector experience. Others bring transferable skills and grow into new areas. Many move between services and levels as their careers develop. What unites everyone is a shared commitment to people-centred, compassionate support.
Our roles are based across Sussex, including in local services and communities, as well as at our Lewes head office. Some are place-based, others offer flexibility or hybrid working.
0
colleagues working across Sussex0
years supporting people and communities0
Top 30 family-friendly employer, runningGold
Investors in People accreditationFor referrers
Make a referral
We accept referrals from statutory teams, health professionals, and local authorities across Sussex. Each area of our work has a clear pathway to ensure the right support at the right time.
Specific eligibility criteria and referral forms are located on the individual service pages.
Housing Support & Homelessness
Services: Pathways Home (Prevention), Tenancy Sustainment, Outreach
Route: Most services require a referral via the Local Council Housing Needs Team
Mental Health Support
Services: Community recovery services, Discharge to Assess
Route: Referrals are primarily managed via UOK (Central Access Point) or Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Learning Disability Support
Services: Supported Living, Positive Behaviour Support
Route: We accept nominations directly from Adult Social Care / Social Services
About safeguarding
Adults with care and support needs who are unable to protect themselves are at higher risk of abuse.
Care and support needs may relate to a person’s age, physical or learning disability, mental health needs or other illness – whether or not the person receives care or support services.
If you think you, or someone you have caring responsibilities for, is being abused or neglected, you can talk to a Southdown team member. Either speak to your usual worker, or if they are unavailable or you are concerned about how they are treating you, please contact a manager of the service.
We will talk to you about your concerns, what you want to do, and how we can help you with this.
In an emergency, or if you think a crime has been committed, call 999. Or you can speak directly to the local Adult Safeguarding Team – their contact details are below.
Local Adult Safeguarding contacts
If you would rather speak to the local Adult Safeguarding Team directly, contact your local authority below:
West Sussex
East Sussex
Brighton & Hove
Which service are you currently using?
Our employment support is delivered through different programmes depending on your circumstances.
Choose the one that best describes your situation:
Work and Wellbeing
East Sussex
Individual Placement and Support (IPS) to help you find and keep paid work. We work with you and your employer to make it sustainable.
Speak to your mental health team about a referral.
Work in Mind
East Sussex | Part of Health in Mind
Employment support alongside your talking therapy – helping you manage work while you’re receiving treatment.
Ask your therapist about a referral to Work in Mind.
IPS in Rehab
West Sussex | Specialist NHS
Employment support for people in mental health rehabilitation, helping you work towards independence and sustained employment.
Speak to your rehabilitation team about a referral.
IPS Substance Misuse
East Sussex | Partnership with CGL
Employment support for people in recovery from addiction, working alongside your treatment team to help you move towards work.
Ask your key worker at CGL about a referral.
Are you experiencing a mental health crisis?
If you need urgent support with your mental health, or you are caring for someone who does.
Sussex Mental Healthline
Samaritans
Shout Crisis Text Line
Prefer to text? Support for anyone in crisis.
0
years supporting people across Sussex
0
people supported in a year
0
say support made a positive difference
0
of tenants feel safe at home
Stories
Personal journeys from the people we support and our colleagues:
Sarah's story
For me, Southdown is about kindness, respect and genuine support. They help people like me move forward with our lives and gain independence.
Sarah has been supported by Southdown for more than twelve years.
Through services like Thinking Well, Staying Well, and the Wellbeing Centre, she’s found tools to manage her mental health and a community where she belongs.
Explore more about Southdown
What we do
Learn how our housing, mental health, employment and learning disability services work together to support people across Sussex.
Explore what we do
How we work
Learn more about our values, the Southdown Beacon, and how our psychologically informed approach shapes the way we work alongside people.
See how we work
Client and tenant involvement
Find out how clients and tenants shape their own support, influence services, take part in recruitment and help improve Southdown.
Learn about involvement
Our leadership
Meet the people who lead Southdown and learn how our leadership, Board and governance structures support our work.
Meet our leadership
Impact and performance
See how we measure our impact, report on performance, and remain open and accountable to the people and communities we support.
View impact and performance
Stories from Southdown
Real stories from clients, tenants, colleagues and partners show the difference that safe homes, support, connection and community can make.
Read our storiesHave your say
We want to provide the best possible service.
Your feedback – good or bad – helps us improve:
Feedback & complaints
If you are unhappy, or want to compliment a staff member, let us know. We take all feedback seriously and will respond.
Client & tenant involvement
Help shape how we work. Join a tenant panel, interview new staff, or review our policies.
Where we're heading
Our 2025–2030 strategy sets out how we will grow and strengthen our work over the coming years.
Grounded in over 50 years of experience and shaped by the voices of colleagues, clients and partners, the strategy responds directly to the challenges facing our communities — from the housing crisis and rising mental health needs, to fragmented systems and growing inequalities.
At its heart are four strategic aims:
1
Breaking down silos
Making support seamless across housing, health and care
2
Expanding housing access
Creating more safe, secure homes as the foundation for stability
3
Enabling independence and meaningful purpose
Opening up opportunities for work, volunteering and connection
4
Creating financial flexibility and resilience
Building strong foundations to protect and grow services for the future
Discharge to Assess
From hospital to home
Brighton and Hove
We help you move safely from hospital back into the community.
If you’re ready to leave a mental health ward but your housing isn’t sorted, we can help. We provide a 6-week support package — and temporary accommodation if you need it — so you don’t stay on the ward longer than necessary.
Who it's for
- Adults (18+) in Brighton & Hove
- People on a mental health ward who are ready to move on
What we offer
- 6-week support – one-to-one help to get back on your feet
- Temporary housing – a furnished place to stay if you need it
- Housing specialist – based at Mill View Hospital to help with accommodation
In other parts of West Sussex, similar services are provided by partner organisations.
0
people supported across Sussex each year
0
years of specialist support and care services
0
tenant safety rating across our housing portfolio
There is a career here if you want one.
- Southdown colleague
Ready to work with us?
Whether you're commissioning services, making a referral, or exploring a partnership - we'd love to hear from you.
Ready to join us?
Whether you want to work directly with people, bring specialist skills, or take the next step in your career, Southdown offers a place where your work can have meaning and impact.
Find the support you need
We offer different types of support across Sussex.
Choose what fits your situation, or get in touch if you’re not sure.
I need help with housing
Safe, stable housing and support to help you maintain your tenancy, build independence, and feel at home.
Find housing supportI need mental health and employment support
Support for your mental health and wellbeing, including crisis services, recovery programmes, and help finding or staying in work.
Find mental health supportI am looking for learning disability support
Care and support that helps you live the life you choose, with independence, purpose, and a sense of belonging.
Find learning disability supportExplore more about us
Dive deeper into how we work, who leads us, and how we perform:
Housing support
Safe, secure homes and tailored support to help people sustain their tenancies and live well.
Find out moreLearning disability support
Person-centred support for over 160 people across Sussex to live with dignity and independence.
Find out moreHow we work
Our values, the Southdown Beacon, and how we involve clients and tenants in shaping our services.
Find out moreClient and tenant involvement
Find out how clients and tenants shape their own support, influence services and help improve Southdown.
Learn about involvementOur leadership
Meet the people who lead Southdown and learn how our Board, Executive Team and governance structures support our work.
Meet our leadershipCareers
Find out what it is like to work at Southdown, explore current vacancies and learn more about our culture, benefits and values.
Explore careersWork with us
Find information for professionals, partners and organisations interested in working with Southdown.
Information for professionalsHousing services
Find out how we can help you find or keep a home across Sussex.
View housing servicesSafeguarding
If you need immediate support, find emergency contacts and crisis services.
Report a concernGet in touch
Speak to our team about any concerns or questions you have.
Contact usAbout Southdown
Who we are, how we work, and what drives us to make a difference.
Find out moreWhat we do
Our services across Sussex - housing, mental health, and learning disability support.
Find out moreOur performance
Reports, regulatory information, tenant satisfaction measures, and governance.
Find out moreOur approach to support
How we help people take part, communicate, make choices, build skills, and have more control in everyday life.
Read about our approach to supportRecognised as a leading employer
We’re proud to be recognised for the way we support our colleagues and create a place where people can do good work and be themselves.
