We would like to welcome you and support your learning journey to ensure your experience in Kent, Surrey, and Sussex (KSS) is one that suits your career and lifestyle ambitions. You and your family will have a wealth of unique experiences on your doorstep to enjoy all year round, from the city seaside of Brighton to the rolling hills of the South Downs and the captivating Kent coastlines.
Travel
When you feel like travelling further afield KSS has great rail and motorway links to London and other locations. London Gatwick and London Heathrow airport fly to worldwide destinations and are both easily accessible by road and rail. There are also channel ferries from Folkestone, Dover, and Newhaven, as well as a direct link to the Eurostar train from Ashford International.
School and education
There are a large number of high performing state primary and secondary schools in KSS along with some of the country’s best private and grammar schools. A list of KSS schools can be found on the Government school webpage. As with many of the other counties, children and young people in KSS are allocated their schools places based on their postcode.
There are several higher education opportunities provided by Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Canterbury Christ Church University, University of Kent, University of Surrey, the University of Brighton as well as the new Kent and Medway Medical School which opens in September 2020.
Housing
Whether you dream of living in the city, countryside, seaside, or town, the ideal home could be just around the corner for you and your family.
Areas in KSS provide an opportunity for both first-time buyers and growing families. Helpful websites to assist in property searches to find the right area and property are Zoopla and Rightmove
Culture, leisure, and entertainment
In KSS there is plenty of cultural, entertainment, sporting, and leisurely activities to explore and participate in. Top attractions include beaches and coastlines, castles and historic buildings, the bohemian city of Brighton, theatres, nature reserves and national trust spots, art galleries, and museums. Top events and days out include the Brighton & Hove Pride festival, Lewes bonfire night, Festival of Speed, Airbourne, Qatar Goodwood Festival, Brighton and Hove Albion premiership football, and cricket fixtures.
For more inspiration on experiences and things to do in KSS, please visit the local tourist websites below.
Population and health
The population in KSS is approx. 4.5million (ONS, 2018), and the population health is varied depending on locations. Each of the Integrated Care Systems and the Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships across KSS has its priorities to address and improve their population’s health. The priorities for each area have been determined by the public, how the health and care organisations work together, patient pathways, the financial deficit, the workforce gap, and the NHS Long Term Plan priorities.
Kent and Medway
In Kent and Medway, the key focus and priorities are:
- Giving everyone the best start in life – Through better maternity services and joining up services from birth to age 25, particularly improving care for children with long-term conditions like asthma, epilepsy, and diabetes with better mental health support in schools and colleges.
- Faster and better diagnosis, treatment, and care for the most common killers – Including cancer, heart disease, stroke, and lung disease, improving survival rates.
- Supporting families and individuals with mental health problems – Making it easier to access talking therapies and transforming how the NHS responds to people experiencing a mental health crisis.
- Faster and appropriate care in the community and care homes – To prevent avoidable admissions for frail and older people.
(Source: Kent and Medway Sustainability and Transformation Partnership, 2020)
Surrey
In Surrey, the clinical priorities are:
- Cancer Care – Improving survival rates, early detection, and long-term quality of life.
- Mental Health – Prioritising early access to help and promoting resilience.
- Primary Care – Strengthening and investing in services at the most local level through new Primary Care Networks.
- Planned Care – Working with patients, staff, and stakeholders to develop a set of best practice guidelines for delivering planned care.
- Women’s and Children’s Care – Sustainable, high-quality physical and mental health care for women and children.
- Medicine Management – Providing high-quality medicines related to care for those who need it.
- Prevention and Wider Determinants of Health – Strengthening and implementing preventative interventions.
- Diabetes – Improving diabetes services both in and out of the hospital.
(Source: Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership, 2020)
Sussex
In Sussex, the clinical priorities are:
- Acute services review – Ensuring the right hospital services for the future.
- Better care at the End of Life – Improving care for people at the end of life, making sure they have every chance to spend their last moments where and how they want.
- Commissioning reform – Changing the way we provide health and care services means we also need to change the way we commission them.
- Engagement and equalities – Involving local communities, people who use services, the public, staff, and clinicians in plans and decision-making.
- Mental Health – Finding new ways for the NHS, local authorities and voluntary sector to work together to improve services and outcomes for people who experience mental ill-health
- Maternity – Overseeing the development of the Local Maternity System (LMS).
- Reducing unwarranted clinical variation – Identifying and examining unwarranted variations in the detection, treatment, and outcomes for a variety of conditions is a proven way to drive improvements in the quality and efficiency of care.
- Workforce – ensure that we can recruit, retain, and develop the right staff with the right skills to meet the needs of the future.
(Source: Sussex Health & Care Partnership, 2020)