The service provides many opportunities for individuals to equip themselves with the skills they need to live the life they choose, including moving on to a supported living environment when they feel prepared for this. Heatherdene encourages and promotes people to gain confidence and promotes decision-making and choice through a person-centred approach, which is individualised and dependent on the specific needs and requirements of each person.

Heatherdene is situated in a quiet residential street five minutes level walk from the town centre and fifteen minutes away from Eastbourne’s vibrant seafront. The home offers a haven in the community for adults with complex, severe and enduring mental illness. Registered for ten, the Home is suitable for both men and women. There are both train and bus services nearby, with buses to London and Brighton running a service every 30 minutes. The buses run a 10 minutes service to various parts of the locality.  

Nearby amenities include:  

Shops, cinemas, theatres, swimming pools, several parks, the railway station, many churches, and several public houses. Accommodation is currently provided in 10 single bedrooms, 5 of these have full en-suite facilities. Great care is taken to ensure that all residents. regardless of age are housed in bedrooms that are accessible and appropriate to their assessed needs. All bedrooms are fully furnished according to individual taste and personal property can be accommodated. All bedrooms have natural ventilation. The home has gas-fired central heating. The home is fully fireproofed and all precautions are taken to minimise the risk of fire and ensure that all residents and staff understand the actions to be taken in the event of a fire. To minimise this risk smoking is only permitted in a named smoking area in the garden. The South-facing, walled garden area offers peace and quiet to those who like to enjoy the peace and tranquillity the garden offers. Residents are actively encouraged and supported to engage in a wide range of social activities and hobbies which include bingo evenings, arts and crafts, theatre and cinema trips, shopping, outings and holidays. Activities may be undertaken on a group or individual basis and staff facilitate the chosen activities. Each resident’s individual wishes regarding involvement with activities will be respected. Contact with relatives and friends is actively encouraged. Residents have the option of seeing their visitors in one of the homes’ communal areas or in the privacy of their own bedroom. Relatives and friends may visit the home at any time and are encouraged to attend social events such as the residents Christmas Party, Summer Fair, entertainment evenings etc.