A HOUSING association has won national praise for its staff.

Lewes-based Southdown picked up an award at the Skills for Care Accolades, which celebrates progress made by employees in helping those in their care.

The organisation - which in particular offers services for those with mental health problems and helps people find work - won in a category which praised new approaches to care.

Martin Dominy, head of mental health services at Southdown said it was a big win.

He said: “Winning this award is deserved recognition of our employment support team and the Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust’s hard work to provide joined up support to help people not only secure paid work, but to address health and social issues that are affecting their lives.”

“Our staff work in NHS mental health recovery teams and we know we have to provide effective support and development to enable them to work well so that the service can meet our clients’ needs.”

Judges said the organisation’s individual placement and support service was an “exemplar of best practice”.

Kate Bones, director of occupational therapy and recovery practice at Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust, said: “I am really delighted to see that Southdown have won a skills for health accolade for showing the most effective approach to integration and new models of care.

“I have worked with the Southdown employment service since it was first commissioned at Sussex Partnership Trust, and have been really impressed with their approach to joint working and innovation.

“The team - from manager to front line worker - are really committed to making the model work, we have learnt from each other over the years, and I hope can continue to do so for a long time to come. We get feedback from individuals who access the employment service that getting a job makes a real difference to their life and to their mental health, joint working and integration is crucial to making peoples’ lives better, Southdown really focus on this element of the approach, and this accolade is well deserved.”

Jenny Spaull, training manager, collected the award with Mr Dominy, Saxon Chadwick, employment services contract manager, and Lisa Kirby, employment services assistant contract manager.