We provide services for women living with HIV, affected family members and fathers living with HIV in Sussex.
This includes offering casework, group work and peer support to women living with HIV and their families.
Our monthly group for women only, has been successfully running for 9 years at the Sussex Beacon.
Specialist One-to-one Casework Support
Our Casework Service provides a safe space to talk and can address numerous issues related to living with HIV.
These include:
- Long term management support to live well HIV. Including giving advice to help navigate services, and improve confidence to manage daily
- Information around HIV treatment
- Support with emotional and mental health needs. We will be able to listen, support and where appropriate refer to other professionals
- Communication around health issues within the family, work place or with health professionals.
- Support with social issues including: housing, finances, immigration, employment.
- Peer support – trained volunteers who are also living with HIV who can offer support confidentiality either 1:1 or in a group.
- Pregnancy, new mum and parenting support.
- Concerns within the home, eg domestic violence.
- Referrals, signposting and care coordination.
The Lawson Unit
We work closely with other HIV clinics and community teams, as well as with the Lawson Unit Sunflower Clinic for women, which is a specialist clinic dedicated to providing a confidential and supportive clinic for Women Living with HIV.
It allows you access to a Doctor, Nurse, Health adviser and a Women’s Case Worker from the Sussex Beacon, all at one appointment.
Contact the Sussex Beacon or the Lawson Unit for further information or to book an appointment.
The casework support we offer is flexible, needs led and regularly reviewed. We can provide home visits.
Health Focused Groups
The women’s group is held monthly and is open to women living with HIV in the Sussex area. The group is a facilitated, safe and confidential space to explore issues related to living with HIV.
Guest speakers are regularly invited to present and explore special interest topics. Examples of previous groups include: ageing and HIV; HIV within the family; ways of coping with stress.
The group offers a crèche facility and we provide a healthy lunch.
Benefits
- Improvement in confidence.
- Greater knowledge and understanding of HIV and living with HIV.
- Reduced social isolation.
- An increase in wellbeing.
Groups, Activities, and Courses
Contact
For more information about our services for women and families, please contact Abigail Bruce, on 01273 694 222, or e-mail her at abigail.bruce@sussexbeacon.org.uk
