Letter from a service user
"The amount of support has really helped. I went from sleeping rough and being in and out of hospital, to having surgery, to finding accommodation, to working with an Employment Specialist and finding voluntary work, and then receiving job offers for three paid jobs! I have also recently got myself a girlfriend, which I never thought I would have. My confidence and self-esteem have gone through the roof. My life has gone from mediocre to out of this world. My support worker has been absolutely fantastic - I could not ask for anything else. My life has been utterly transformed by this, thank you."
Letter from a service user
"It is rare in the extreme for the structure of society to offer empathy along with opportunity, without the restraints of parental judgement or containment. However, I would like to express my appreciation of Home Works: I have been truly humbled by the kind attentive understanding gifted to me and the life changing guidance which has resulted in peaceful security and a second chance of a purposeful life. The sanctuary of my own home gives contentment to my mind which I do not intend to squander, for this is the foundation on which I can rebuild my own sense of “worth”. I am thankful.
Lastly, please note my limitless appreciation of my worker, he is a real “humanist” and his capacity for understanding has meant everything."
Southdown’s Mental Health Supported Employment Services
During a recent international conference (The 15th World Congress of Psychiatry, Buenos Aires, Argentina, September 18-22, and with 13,000 attending), Southdown’s Mental Health Supported Employment services were showcased by the UK’s representative from the Centre for Mental Health.
One delegate from New Zealand, provided feedback direct to Southdown after hearing the presentation
“the (Southdown) processes and outcome, are just amazing – the work you are doing is of the highest calibre internationally and that came across really well to everyone at the conference”.
Letter from a Southdown tenant
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who have helped and supported me to live an independent life. I am and will be forever grateful.
Southdown’s involvement has undoubtedly been a huge thing and without that help life for me would be so very different. My life has changed for the better and has affected the way I cope with daily situations.
I am honoured to be a tenant of Southdown and hope to be living here for a while yet."
Letter to our Chief Executive from a parent
"The values, culture and ethos that you in particular but also the SMT as a whole espouse and promulgate are so firmly embedded in Southdown’s corporate conscience that the chance of anything approaching the Bristol case happening are so small as to be immeasurable. It was this corporate conscience that was so evident and so influential in us deciding to move J into your care. There is no doubt that Southdown is an outstanding exemplar in how to care for vulnerable people. You should be rightly proud that you lead such an outstanding organisation."
Letter from service user
"Thank you so much for not treating me like an idiot. Sometimes the Morphine made it hard to explain properly but you had the patience of a saint and have made a big difference to my life and I can't thank you enough."
Letter from Supported Employment service user
"Thank you very much for making my life easy. Now I am working I am much more confident and less stressed, my life is better now. My Employment Specialist helped me so much with everything. He helped me with finding a job and to even learn the job. He helped me to speak with my employer and made sure my benefits were ok when I started work. Thank you."
Letter from a service user
"My FSO was extremely helpful, encouraging & positive. She motivated me a lot and assisted me with important issues I would not have felt motivated to undertake otherwise. She deserves a pay rise or promotion if not a medal. She was the only motivating and positive outside influence some days and she kept ahead of all my needs and schedules and rang me to remind me – a very patient lady with a very calming demeanour. I got the impression she actually cared about my circumstances and wasn't just playing a role."
Letter from Southdown tenant
"I cannot believe how much you have helped me and not judged me in any way. That is giving me hope to carry on."
Feedback received about Receptionist at Lewes office
"In a meeting with clients in Hastings one of them pulled me to one side to say how welcome you made him feel when he visited the office last week. He said it was a wonderful experience (he says he can often get nervous in unfamiliar situations) He just wanted you to know - great job."