search.noResults

search.searching

dataCollection.invalidEmail
note.createNoteMessage

search.noResults

search.searching

orderForm.title

orderForm.productCode
orderForm.description
orderForm.quantity
orderForm.itemPrice
orderForm.price
orderForm.totalPrice
orderForm.deliveryDetails.billingAddress
orderForm.deliveryDetails.deliveryAddress
orderForm.noItems
News Police appeal


following fire POLICE are investigating sus- pected arson at commercial prem- ises inMaidstone. Patrols were called to the scene


in Gravelly Bottom Road in Kingswood, at 2.54am on Satur- day, September 14. Astatement saidKent Police are


working to establish the cause of the fire, alongside Kent Fire and Rescue Service. It is understood there were thefts from the prem- ises. It added: “Anyonewith informa-


tion regarding the fire, or if you saw anything suspicious in the area during the late evening of Fri- day, September 13, into the early morning of the following day, is asked to call Kent Police on 01622 604100 quoting 46/176907/19.”


Council polls


THE way the borough council elects its members could change after pressure from the Conserva- tive oppostionmembers. The Tories have argued holding


onepoll every four years is cheaper than three polls in each four-year cycle. Tory opposition leader atMaid-


stone BoroughCouncil (MBC)Cllr JohnPerry believes substantial sav- ings could bemade. Theproposalwill bediscussedin


greater detail in November by Lib Dem-ledMBC.


Heed the call


NINE hundred would-be police officers have responded to the re- cruitment call by the force. The latest round of applications


have been receivedsinceApril, fol- lowing the launch by Kent Police of its More Than the Badge cam- paign inMarch last year. A hike in council tax secured by


Kent Police and Crime Commis- sioner Matthew Scott, means an extra 180 officers on the beat, as well as the extra 200 in the previ- ous financial year.


Band concert


THE UK Paper Band will be per- forming at Ulcombe Church on October 5. The group from Sittingbourne


will performat 2.30pm. Tickets cost £10 and include a


cream tea. They can be obtained from Molly Poulter on (01622 842988) or Bridget Samuelson (01622 890912), or on the door.


4 Maidstone East October 2019


downsmail.co.uk


Care home ordered to improve after inquiry


ACARE service in Bearsted is under investigation after inspectors found a series of serious breaches in theway residentswere cared for. Caretech Community Services


(No.2) Limited’s Chapel Lane cen- tre has been placed in special measures and the local authority safe-guarding team is investigat- ing. It follows an unannounced in-


spection lasting six days by the Care Quality Commission, promptedbywhistle-blowers con- cerned about the restrictive and controlling behaviour of staff. TheCQCfound,while the build-


ingwas clean, its 20 residentswere not treated with dignity and re- spect andthe language andactions of some staffwasdisrespectful and at times physically, verbally and emotionally abusive. The home for those with learn-


ing disabilities and, in some cases physical disabilities, has been downgraded from its good grade inDecember 2018 to inadequate in all respects as a result of the in- spection, with some staff sus- pended because of the allegations. The CQC report noted that the


abusive attitude and behaviour of some staff appeared to have been going on since June 2017.One res- ident disclosed they were pushed over by staff, banging their head, and showed the inspector a bruise on their leg. The inspector was told: “(The staff)didn't helpme get


up. I said, could I be helped, but they said ‘no, you can see yourself up’.” The CQC found residents were


not being supported to be inde- pendent, with examples of some losing previous skills, such as cooking, since entering the home, while on one floor, staff argued with each other. The report went on: “There was


lack of choice and people were controlled by staff.” Residents were told what and


when to eat and what activities to engage in. The kitchenwas locked and residents had to ask for food if they were hungry outside set times. Tablets were administered “as and when”, while people’s


Caretech’s Chapel Lane care home in Bearsted has been ordered to improve its service


health needs, such as constipation and epilepsy,were also not always met effectively. Some staff were also not trained to understand the communication tools being used by residentswithspeechproblems. The inspector noted that con-


cerns about a lack of skills had been raised at staff meetings, but no action was taken by registered managers Errol White and Susan Hornett. The CQC will keep the service


under review and re-inspect within six months. A spokesman said: “If the provider has notmade enough improvement, we will begin theprocess ofpreventing the provider fromoperating this serv- ice.”


Student takes on top TVchallenge


A CAMBRIDGE student from Bearsted has taken part in the BBC college quiz show, University Chal- lenge. Lillian Crawford told threemillion


viewers that she hailed from the village nearMaidstone. The Trinity College student, who


is returning this year for an MPhil in Filmand Screen Studies, said: “I


was delighted to learn that more women took part in the show this year than ever before, but we still struggle to encourage female stu- dents. “There aremultiple reasons as to


why, although I can only hope that seeing such a magnificent cohort of female contestants on the series this year will encourage more


women to take part in future.” The Cambridge college defeated


Durhamuniversity by 200 to 145. University Challenge, which airs


on BBC2 and is presented by Je- remy Paxman, has two teams of four students representing higher education bodies, answering ques- tions of a generally more difficult standard thanmost quiz shows.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48