Southdown Housing Association is a not-for-profit organisation. The Association is a registered social landlord, incorporated as an industrial and provident society and regulated by the Tenant Services Authority.
An Executive Team, made up of senior staff, heads the day-to-day running of Southdown and we have a Board which oversees the governance of the organisation. The Board is made up of volunteers who have experience and interest in our field of work and a wide range of other specialist skills.
Chief Executive
Aideen has spent over 35 years working in the independent social care sector, 16 years were spent working with young people in therapeutic settings in Wales and Sussex and she has worked for Southdown since 1989. She gained a certificate in Social Care in 1980, qualified as a trainer in 1990, and gained a certificate in Public Services from LSE in 2000. She is an associate member of the Institute of Directors. She has been a Board member of the Association since 2005.
Aideen is a Voluntary Sector member of the Council of Governors of the Sussex Partnership Foundation NHS Trust.
"Listening to what our tenants and service users have to say about Southdown helps us to stay dynamic and responsive. We have a 'can do' approach and believe in the individuality of everyone so will always do our best to find tailor made solutions to tenants and service users' needs.
I am absolutely proud of the work that Southdown does and privileged to head such a dynamic organisation."
Director of Operations, Housing Support and Supported Employment
Neil originally qualified as a chartered surveyor and worked for a number of years in commercial property development and management. Since 1993 he has worked in the social housing sector specialising in providing services to vulnerable people including former rough sleepers, people with sensory impairments, young people leaving care and people living with HIV/AIDS. He joined Southdown in May 2001. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.
Neil has overseen a period of significant growth within the Housing Support and Supported Employment divisions since he joined Southdown in 2001. Working with commissioners, service users and staff, Neil and his senior management team have successfully transformed models of support provision to meet changing needs, as well as embedding evidence based good practice. During 2010 it is predicted that the areas of Housing Support and Supported Employment will deliver services to over 4,250 individuals across Sussex. In addition to operational responsibilities, Neil takes the lead on service user involvement in Southdown.
Neil states - "During periods of growth we continue to deliver and improve the quality of our services by regularly seeking honest feedback from all our stakeholders - most importantly our service users. Current new initiatives that are proving successful includes our "Quality Consultants" - service users who receive training and support to coordinate internal service user led quality audit inspections of individual services. The direct feedback that they are receiving from interviewing service users is already enabling operational managers to make changes that further improve service user's experiences and satisfaction."
Director - Corporate Services
Originally trained as a psychologist, then later as a manager, trainer and HR specialist, Vikki has worked for over 30 years for organisations providing support and housing services to vulnerable people. She joined Southdown in 1996, having previously worked for the NHS, London based RSL's and Local Authorities.
Vikki is committed to ensuring that both the staff and the systems underpinning the operational services are of high quality and are cost effective.
"I apply the 'value to the service users' rule of thumb to all systems and initiatives, asking the question how does this add value to the services people receive?"
Director - Learning Disability Services
Kay has worked in learning disability services for three decades, initially qualifying as a nurse then moving on to social care services. Prior to joining Southdown Housing Association in February 2010, Kay worked for a Local Authority; working as a practitioner, qualifying as a trainer and, more latterly, managing provider services and leading Care Management teams. Kay has also worked as a training consultant for the British Institute of Learning Disabilities; a role that brought her into contact with many statutory and third sector social care organisations across the country.
Kay remains passionate about the need to offer good quality support to vulnerable people and says:
“I am delighted to take up post with Southdown Housing Association having recognised for some time that this organisation leads the way in terms of providing outstanding support that is planned by, and with, service users. I am looking forward to meeting and working with staff throughout the organisation, all of whom contribute towards ensuring that Southdown retains its excellent reputation”.
Director - Finance and Asset Management
Nick joined Southdown in June 2009. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant before undertaking a six month spell of voluntary work at a hospital in Pakistan. He then returned to the UK and worked with Nestlé UK for ten years including roles looking after the financial aspects of Nescafé coffee and Carnation milks and was Head of Finance for the Nestlé Food Services Division. Nick then worked for four years as the U.K. Director of Finance for the Findus frozen food.
Prior to joining Southdown Nick spent four years as a Finance Director with The Shaftesbury Society and worked on their merger with John Grooms to form the new organisation, Livability.
Nick says - "I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with Southdown and I hope to learn much from Southdown’s positioning as a Times Top 100 organisation". He also hopes that he will be able to use his experience gained in the commercial and charity sectors to help Southdown to continue to grow and prosper.
The Senior Management Team comprises individuals who demonstrate their skills in particular areas on a daily basis:
Aideen Jones Chief Executive
Vikki Hayward-Cripps Director – Corporate Services
Nick Hawes Director – Finance and Property Services
Neil Blanchard Director – Operations
Kay Holden Director – Learning Disability Services
Tim Wormley-Healing Corporate Administration & Facilities Manager
Janet Casserley HR Services Manager
Jenny Spaull Training Manager
Chaun Wilson Area Manager - Housing Support
Chris Storey Area Manager
Heather May Area Manager
Mark Holton Area Manager - Housing Support
Roisin Murphy Area Manager – Business Development
Sharon Clare Area Manager
Jo Whitehead Area Manager - Housing Support
Sarah Bray Area Manager - Housing Support
Martin Dominy Head of Supported Employment
James Membrey Housing & Property Management Area Manager
Julia Sheer Finance Manager