At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape a welcoming environment in Mental Health Hubs across East Sussex.
- Company: Join Southdown, a community-focused organisation dedicated to mental health and wellbeing.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, health cashback scheme, discounts, and 25 days holiday.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal growth and community impact.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the community while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in community engagement and strong relationship management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 28000 - 38000 £ per year.
Application Deadline: 26 February 2026
Department: Mental Health and Wellbeing Services
Employment Type: Permanent
Location: East Sussex - Lewes
Compensation: £33,951 / year
Description Job Role: Neighbourhood Lead (Mental Health Services)
Location: Lewes base, working throughout East Sussex
Salary: £33,951 plus £1000 plus Essential Car User Allowance per annum
Hours: 37 per week
Perks and Benefits:
- Health cost cash-back scheme: access to our health insurance scheme which covers dental, optical, physical therapies and other medical treatments with the option to add greater levels of cover.
- Retail discount hub: Exclusive discounts, cashback & vouchers from major retail outlets.
- Interest-free loans: assistance with larger costs that arise such as tenancy deposits, season travel tickets or buying a car.
- Group life insurance 2 x salary: Non-contributory life insurance cover for our group pension scheme members.
- Cycle scheme: Substantial savings on your new bike purchase.
- Blue Light card: access to discount services for the social care sector with savings across thousands of online shops, restaurants, and high-street vendors.
- Access to a credit union (Money Co-Op): A not for profit credit union available to help you save, borrow and feel more confident with your money.
- Free advice and counselling service: confidential emotional support and practical guidance from our independent telephone service.
- Access to the Easit Network: discounts and incentives on train, bus and car journeys such as 15% off eligible daily and season rail tickets.
- 25 days paid holiday plus bank holidays.
What you will be doing:
As a Neighbourhood Lead, you will play a key role in shaping and leading a welcoming, person-centred environment across our Mental Health Hubs and pop-up sites. You will build strong partnerships with UOK, local providers and community organisations, ensuring our offer reflects the needs of residents. You will be an ambassador for Southdown, and its core offer as well as developing/creating a connected, responsive and accessible wellbeing system with partners in the neighbourhood. You will also lead on maintaining a psychologically informed, inclusive space and guide volunteers in delivering high quality support.
Knowledge, skills and experience:
- Experience in co-production, community engagement ‑ or resident participation.
- Strong relationship management and communication skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively with external partners and internal teams.
- Understanding of neurodiversity and inclusive practice.
- Knowledge of safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion.
- An understanding of how common mental health problems affect people's lives and how community wellbeing services can respond to these needs.
What you need for the role:
- Excellent community development skills, building a shared vision/ownership of community, building collaboration through effective partnerships.
- Excellent Relational Management skills with the ability to build trust, confidence, integrity and influence.
- Be able to be curious and challenge to connect services and identify risk.
- Be able to listen and develop client feedback processes.
- Excellent management skills, be an advocate of the new model of delivery of service, lead volunteers, be a team player.
- Have excellent analytical skills.
- An Enhanced DBS check, paid for by Southdown.
- A full driving licence is essential along with access to your own vehicle or a vehicle insured for you for business use.
NB This proposed role is part of the Mental Health Service redesign and is still subject to consultation and therefore subject to change. No interviews will be held until the proposals are finalised and confirmed.
How to apply:
Click Apply Now and complete our simple one‑page application form.
Application closing date: 26 February 2026
Interviews held: Early March
Please note: If we receive a high volume of applications, the vacancy may close earlier. We encourage early applications.
Neighbourhood Lead in Lewes employer: Southdown
As a Neighbourhood Lead with Southdown in Lewes, you will be part of a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises mental health and wellbeing. With competitive benefits such as a health cost cash-back scheme, generous holiday allowance, and access to professional development opportunities, Southdown is committed to fostering employee growth and satisfaction. Join us in making a meaningful impact in the community while enjoying the unique advantages of working in beautiful East Sussex.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Neighbourhood Lead in Lewes
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Research Southdown and its values, especially around mental health and community engagement. This will help you tailor your approach during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in being a Neighbourhood Lead.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend local events related to mental health services. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by practising common questions related to community development and relationship management. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and highlight your relevant experience.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Southdown.
We think you need these skills to ace Neighbourhood Lead in Lewes
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Yourself:When filling out your application, let your personality shine through! We want to see the real you, so don’t be afraid to share your experiences and what makes you passionate about mental health and community engagement.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the Neighbourhood Lead role. Use keywords from the job description to show us you understand what we’re looking for!
Showcase Your Experience:We love seeing examples of your past work, especially in community development and relationship management. Share specific instances where you've made a positive impact, as this will help us envision you in the role.
Apply Early:Don’t wait until the last minute! We encourage you to apply through our website as soon as you can. This way, you’ll have a better chance of standing out before the deadline, especially if we receive a high volume of applications.
How to prepare for a job interview at Southdown
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand the role of a Neighbourhood Lead and the specific responsibilities it entails. Familiarise yourself with the mental health services landscape in East Sussex, and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with the job description.
✨Showcase Your Community Engagement Skills
Prepare examples of your past experiences in community engagement or co-production. Think about how you've built partnerships and collaborated with local organisations, as this will be crucial for the role.
✨Demonstrate Relational Management Abilities
Be ready to talk about how you've built trust and confidence in previous roles. Highlight your communication skills and provide examples of how you've effectively managed relationships with both internal teams and external partners.
✨Emphasise Inclusivity and Understanding
Discuss your understanding of neurodiversity and inclusive practices. Be prepared to explain how you would create a psychologically informed environment and support volunteers in delivering high-quality services.
