Latest news with #BBCKent
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Care home rated inadequate for second time by CQC
A care home in Kent has been rated inadequate by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for the second time. Hevercourt in Gravesend received the rating following an inspection in February which the CQC said found five breaches of legal regulations relating to safe care and treatment, safeguarding, staffing, recruitment and how the service was managed. In response to these findings, CQC imposed urgent conditions on the home to restrict them from taking on new residents without prior agreement from the watchdog. Hevercourt, which was also rated inadequate in a report published in September 2024, has been contacted for a comment. Inspectors found staff were supporting people with unsafe techniques, medicines were still not being managed or stored safely, people's care records and plans were not updated and lacked detail, and incident management and safeguarding systems were poor. The report also said staff were not always recruited safely and there were gaps in employment checks. Areas of the home - including people's bedrooms - remained difficult to keep clean and in need of updating, and the environment continued to be potentially disorienting for people with dementia. A new manager was in post since the last inspection, but the provider had not given them a clear induction or action plan, the CQC said. However, the watchdog added that staff reported the new manager had made some positive changes, such as acting quickly on a concern about a lack of equipment. Serena Coleman, CQC deputy director of operations in the south, said staff did not take action when people's health was at risk. "We also saw detail was missing from notes about what staff did when someone had choked on their food, and staff didn't support people who had wounds on their skin to regularly change positions to prevent further injury," she said. The deputy director said in the watchdog's previous inspection it found people were at risk of sexualised behaviour from other residents and this was still the case. Ms Coleman added: "During the inspection, we saw a 20-minute period where no staff were present in a room with six residents. "Incident reports showed 80% of falls happened during the night shift, but staffing levels hadn't been reviewed." The deputy leader said the care home had been told where "immediate and widespread" improvements were needed. The CQC explained that the home remained in special measures, meaning it was being closely monitored to ensure people were kept safe whilst improvements were made. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Care service provider rated inadequate by CQC Adult social care requires improvement - watchdog Care home and agency in special measures - CQC Hevercourt Care Quality Commission
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Migrants hoping to cross Channel consider future
People along the French coast hoping to cross the English Channel on small boats have spoken to the BBC about their futures. Nearly 15,000 people have reached the UK in small boats so far in 2025 - a rise of about a third on the same period in the previous year. At a makeshift camp in Dunkirk, one man who did not give his name said although his first attempt to cross the Channel was stopped by police, he was undeterred and would try again. Another man hoping to cross the Channel, who also did not give his name, said: "I want documents and work and safety." A man from Afghanistan, who did not want to be identified, said he would be attempting to cross the Channel. "The small boats are very dangerous," he added. "France is good [but the] UK is good for the immigrants." Although one man, who did not give his name, said he was thinking about returning home. "I think I need to go back home," he said. "I miss my family, I miss my children." The Home Office has said it wants to end "dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security" and will "stop at nothing" to dismantle people-smuggling gangs. A spokesperson added: "We are strengthening international partnerships and boosting our ability to identify, disrupt, and dismantle criminal gangs whilst strengthening the security of our borders." Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Mayors call for PM to visit Calais migrant camps How many people cross the Channel in small boats? More than 1,000 migrants cross Channel in a day Home Office
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Yahoo
Man accused of baby murder found gaming by police
A man was found gaming on his phone by police after shaking his baby daughter so hard he caused "catastrophic" brain injuries, a court has heard. Thomas Holford, 24, is accused of murdering Everleigh Stroud, who was rushed to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, Kent, on 21 April 2021. She remained there in a vegetative state until she died, aged 14 months, on 27 May 2022. Holford, of Ramsgate, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in November last year, denies murder and causing actual bodily harm. On Tuesday, jurors at Canterbury Crown Court heard that Everleigh also had bone fractures, bruising to her face, atrophy to her eyes leading to her going blind and injuries to her anus. Prosecuting, Eloise Marshall KC told the court: "There is no dispute those injuries were inflicted by Thomas Holford," adding that they had been caused deliberately. At the time of the incident, Holford was living with his then 16-year-old girlfriend and her parents at an address in Wallwood Road, Ramsgate. His partner had stayed with a friend on 20 April to celebrate her birthday, leaving Holford to care for Everleigh overnight, the court heard. The next morning Everleigh's grandmother Kelly Stroud called 999, telling the operator the five-week-old baby "looked like she was in agony" and was unresponsive and barely breathing. Police attending the scene remarked that Holford appeared to be in a "good mood" as he played games on his phone while his daughter was being rushed to hospital. They also noted a bag of herbal cannabis and a grinder next to a baby's bottle in the room where he had slept with Everleigh. Ms Marshall added Holford "showed little emotion" and did not answer the majority of police questions when interviewed, except to say that he would not do anything to hurt his daughter. The trial continues. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Man charged over death of child in Ramsgate HM Courts and Tribunals Service
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
Trial set for dad and son accused of boy's death
A trial date has been set for a father and son charged with murder following a crash in Kent in which a four-year-old family member died. Patrick Maughan, 53, and Owen Maughan, 27, both from Hill Rise, Darenth, appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday, each facing four charges. They are accused of the murder of four-year-old Peter Maughan, causing grievous bodily harm to Peter's father, Lovell Mahon, 24, and the attempted wounding with intent of Peter's mother, Hayley Maughan, and a one-year-old girl. Patrick Maughan and Owen Maughan will remain in custody until a plea and trial preparation hearing at the same court on 7 July. Mr Mahon, who remains in hospital in a critical condition, and the two children were travelling in the same car. The charges relate to a crash involving two Ford Ranger pick-up trucks in New Barn Road, Dartford, shortly before 21:30 BST on Sunday. Owen Maughan has accepted that he was driving a vehicle at the time of the crash, while Patrick Maughan has accepted he was a passenger. The pair appeared in court of Friday via separate video links from HMP Elmley. A provisional trial date has been set for 2 February and is expected to last four weeks. Kent Police is continuing to appeal for anyone with information about the crash to come forward. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Dad and son in court accused of boy's crash murder Two arrested after four-year-old dies in crash HM Courts & Tribunals Service
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
CCTV 'pivotal' in raising endangered snow leopard
An animal sanctuary has said that CCTV cameras are "absolutely pivotal" to their work as animal conservationists. The Big Cat Sanctuary, in Smarden, Kent, is dedicated to the conservation and rescue of cats. The sanctuary welcomed its latest arrival of an endangered snow leopard cub, nicknamed 'Little Lady', on 10 May. Curator Briony Smith told the BBC that CCTV "allows us to monitor the mothers, monitor the cubs, but also give them a bit of distance and not get too involved". Ms Smith acknowledged that a new cub was "just so cute" but explained that it was important people didn't lose sight of the work that they do. 'Little Lady's' mother, Laila, has had three previous litters with breeding partner Yarko as part of the sanctuary's wider European breeding programme. As well as monitoring new cubs through cameras, keepers and trainers at the sanctuary work closely with the cats to build the trust necessary for medical procedures. Laila's primary trainer Simon Jackaman has worked with her for seven years and even built an ultrasound table for the snow leopard. Mr Jackaman said he completed "mock scans" with Laila leading up to the pregnancy to get her used to human contact. Snow leopards are listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list, with an estimated 2,700 to 3,300 mature adults remaining in the wild. The sanctuary is hoping that the new cub will be out in its enclosure in August, following essential vaccinations. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Endangered snow leopard born at animal sanctuary Ukrainian lions to start journey to UK sanctuary Cat sanctuary meets target to rescue Ukraine lions The Big Cat Sanctuary
