• Maintain in partnership a community-based approach to preventative mental health and support to people affected by common mental health issues
• Develop effective and innovative approaches to promote positive mental health and well-being in response to local community need
• Support voluntary and self help groups to address positive mental health and well-being
• Work in close partnership with statutory services
• Support the delivery of a range of services: psychological and therapeutic interventions; help into employment; social support & healthy living and information and advice
• Maintain information & self-help resources about local and national support services
• Offer a venue and ethos that promotes inclusion and discourages discrimination and stigma

Since January 2000 46,614 people have attended Summerhayes in a range of over 50 different activities.

This locally developed model meets the national recommendations of the Layard Report June 2006 on the effective means to address common mental health issues and is recognised as a model of good practice for service delivery in East Sussex.

 

In 2006/07 Summerhayes achieved:

• Completion of the extensive expansion and refurbishment programme which involved full closure of the centre for three months, partial closure for a further three months and relocation of services to alternative venues reopening in September 2006
• Funding for the capital works of £132,000 was secured through an ESCC Core Capacity Capital Bid
• Works included: the creation of additional an office space and 3 small meeting rooms; building of a conservatory and enclosed patio area; refurbishment of facilities to ensure DDA compliance and baby-change facilities; creation of IT training space, 3 large meeting room areas and a resource room; refurbishment of the centre including Health and Safety compliance
• Despite the closure, in 2006/2007 5,875 people used Summerhayes over a range of 26 different activities including 6 new groups.
• The range of activities included: Beating the Blues, counselling, Options & Mindfulness based cognitive therapy for anxiety and depression; NewCEP employment project, Job Club, 103 hours of one to one IT training,  CAB  & benefits advice; Coffee & chat, WRVS intergenerational work, cooking groups, Hillrise group, Munchkins parents group, Pilates & Yoga
• 8 counsellors offer the low cost service including counselling, cognitive therapy, and art therapy with 87 referrals from GP practices.
• Funding to buy recommended self-help books available in the resource room
• The Options service continued to expand receiving 249 referrals and offering 105 appointments
• Continued strategic links and operational development in partnership with East Sussex County Council Adult Services, East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT, Hastings and Rother PCT, Sussex Mental Health Trust, Care Services Improvement Partnership, Ouse Valley Community Mental Health Team  & Options Steering Group
• Secondment maintained of Development Manager from East Sussex County Council
• Maintained funding from East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT and  ESCC for the delivery of the Options Service and Low cost counseling by Summerhayes and Sussex Downs College for MBCT and other training courses

Steering group:

 

Advice on the development and implementation of Summerhayes continues to be through the active partnership Steering Group including representation from ESCC Adult Services, East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT, Sussex Downs College, Ouse Valley Community Mental Health Team, a local GP and Southdowns Housing

 

User involvement:

• Informal feedback is gathered from all Summerhayes users and additional  formal input through discussions with user groups
• Annual formal user survey
• Formal reviews with all practitioners and service providers in addition to evaluation and feedback questionnaires from user groups

Staffing:

Development Manager                    Kate Charlton   (seconded ESCC)         

Centre Administrator                      John Granshaw        

Assistant Centre Administrators      Stephanie Foard & Charonne Fuller        

Domestic Support                           Rachel Halsey            

Sessional staff                               Jonathan Gibbins, Janet Gunn, Jenny Halsey, Rachel Halsey, Howard Harbert, Tim Hockin, Angela Medhurst, Miriam Mitchell, Jackie O'Connell, Ann Pelling, Michelle Raven, Michelle Reid, Maggie Willard

18th May 2012