Who can use the Centre

Heather Close Centre is for adults (those aged over 18 and under 65 years of age), who use our community mental health services in the north central part of Lewisham.

Service users should be registered at one of the following GP surgeries:  

  • Burnt Ash Surgery
  • Lee Road Surgery
  • Lewisham Medical Centre
  • Nightingale Surgery
  • Triangle Group Practice
  • Woodlands Health Centre
  • Rushey Green Surgery  

Find out more about what we offer here.

You can find out where GPs and other health services are located in your community in Lewisham, by clicking on the map located here.  

Key aims for Heather Close Community Mental Health Centre

•       Joined up: The Heather Close Centre brings together community and primary care mental health teams to provide a more integrated approach that is easier for people to access and centred around their needs.

•       Accessible: Adjacent to the Centre is Mountsfield Recovery House that provides round the clock extended care (in Guest Beds) for those in need for up to one week - helping them avoid a potential stay in hospital.

•       Co-designed: A key strength of the Centre is that it has been designed with service users, carers, staff, and partners - encouraging and enabling involvement at all stages. This helps ensure the service reflects what people actually need and value.

•       Culturally competent: Many local voluntary and community groups are now working with us to deliver some of our services. This partnership is helping us understand and meet the different cultural needs of local people. We hope it will improve our services and make them easier to access for everyone we serve.

Our ten core principles

Our approach in developing the Heather Close Centre and its services was guided by ten core principles. These were inspired by the knowledge, expertise and advice of our service users and carers, staff and partners about what’s most important for them

Six reasons why we’re different

1) Neighbourhood based 

•       Newly refurbished mental health centre now open at Heather Close in Hither Green. 

•       Rooted in the community – our partnership with the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) and local VCSE organisations is helping ensure services meet the diverse cultural needs of those we serve.

2) Relationships at the heart 

•       Central to our approach is explicitly describing relationships as the first line intervention. 

•       We aim to build a trusting relationship between the person, their family and network and the care team, working with system partners to make sure we offer holistic care.  

3) Shaped by community feedback and evidence based

•       The Centre has been developed based on ongoing engagement with service users, carers, staff and communities, plus evidence and best practice nationally and internationally. 

4) A new, improved offer

•       24/7 care in the community featuring a neighbourhood-based service offering extended opening hours (8am – 8pm Mon to Fri & 9am – 5pm at weekends) with accessible crisis support and the opportunity to utilise guest beds for extended care.

•       Enhanced collaboration with local VCSE partners.

•       Services delivered by an integrated and expanded multi-disciplinary team, co-located with the primary care mental health team.

5) Introducing a Membership Model – key principles

•       Provide ongoing support and resources as mental health management is often a long-term process.

•       Build a strong community where individuals can connect, share experiences, and find mutual support.

•       Integrate work and work-related activities as a key component of recovery - promoting skills development and meaningful engagement.

6 Long term commitment to new ways of working 

•       Aim to share and spread our success and learning across Lewisham and beyond.