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News
New mental health and eating disorders services
From 1 September 2017, people of any age in east Kent with an eating disorder, and children and young people who need specialist mental healthcare, will get more joined-up services.
This is because contracts for a new all-age eating disorders service in Kent and Medway and an innovative children and young people’s mental health service in Kent have been awarded to the same organisation: NHS trust NELFT.
Currently, different trusts provide different aspects of the service, and there is no separate specialist service for people with eating disorders: it is part of wider mental health services.
Although the contracts were awarded separately, NELFT won both of them after being judged best for quality and value for money by each of the teams involved, who included GPs and mental health specialists. All the Kent services provided by NELFT will be based locally.
Children, young people and families with experience of mental health problems, and teenagers and adults with experience of eating disorders played a key role in the process, including setting out what they expect from the new service. (more…)
KCC Strategy for Adults with Autism
Kent County Council (KCC) is launching its strategy for adults with autism on Tuesday, July 11 which sets out its future commitments and priorities.
In 2010, Government set out a requirement for all local authorities to have a strategy as described in the National Autism Strategy.
Across Kent, approximately over 13,000 individuals are living with autism and current estimates suggest over half these will have autism in the absence of a learning disability. This strategy addresses these individuals.
The launch event will be chaired by Anne Tidmarsh, KCC Director for Older People and Physical Disability and will include an introduction by Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Graham Gibbens.
KCC Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Graham Gibbens, said:
“In Kent, we want to continue to ensure that adults with autism are able to live their lives free from the risk of discrimination, hate crime and abuse.
“This strategy outlines our core principles, and our vision for how we can ensure that individuals are able to live fulfilling and rewarding lives.”
Director of Older People and Physical Disability, Anne Tidmarsh, said:
“Since the announcement by Government in 2010, we have taken time in developing services for this group including a specialist social care team, diagnostic service and commissioning peer support groups.
“We are now pleased to welcome a strategy that addresses the needs of adults with autism which assesses the current situation and looks at future priorities and commitments.”
For further information about the strategy and any queries, please email SensoryandAutism@kent.gov.uk to learn more.
Kent County Council 28 June 2017
https://kccmediahub.net/kcc-launches-strategy-adults-autism745
Acting on product safety
If there is a problem with the safety of a product, its manufacturer is responsible for making arrangements for its repair, replacement or refund for the owner. This includes contacting the person who has purchased it where possible, and publishing a notice drawing attention to the risk the product poses and what the manufacturer is doing to remedy the issue.
Grenfell Tower fire update
A Hotpoint fridge freezer has been identified as the initial source of the Grenfell Tower fire. At this stage, the manufacturer Whirlpool Corporation has not issued a product recall. Consumers who believe they may own a Hotpoint fridge freezer model number FF175BP (white) or FF175BG (grey) should call Whirlpool’s freephone hotline on 0800 316 3826 or visit the Hotpoint Service website to register your details for further updates.
Checklatest recalls |
Registeryour appliance |
Contact Information |
Registration for the Kent Test
Registration for Kent Test (11+) is now open for any parent of a year five child who would like them to be considered for a place in a Kent Grammar school for 2018.
Parents have until 3 July to register for the test. These will take place after the summer break on 7 September for children who go to school in Kent and 9 September for those children who go to school outside of Kent. Results will be sent out on 12 October.
Roger Gough, KCC Cabinet Member for Education said: “To speed up the process we urge as many parents as possible to register online. 95% of all test registrations are made this way and allows results to be sent by email.
“The Kent Test helps parents and children find the most suitable type of school for the next stage of their education.
“As more grammar schools include priority for pupils eligible for free school meals in their admissions arrangements we are particularly keen to encourage these families to register and sit the test.“ (more…)
KCC Older Persons Wellbeing Consultation
Older Persons and People Living with Dementia Wellbeing Core Offer
Kent County Council
Opens: 12 Jun 2017
Closes: 23 Jul 2017
Kent County Council is developing a new model for the Wellbeing Core Offer of Services for Older Persons and People Living with Dementa. The offer seeks to improve people’s wellbeing and support them to live as independently as possible.
Kent County Council (KCC) wants to hear your views on the proposal to ensure that the new model meets the needs of Kent residents and delivers the outcomes which are most important to them.
In designing the new model, KCC is proposing to end annual grants which fund older persons and dementia community and voluntary sector services and re-invest the funding in a new contract. The proposed contract will create a more joined up pathway for supporting people to live well, will be delivered through a Strategic Partner approach and will be in place for 5-7 years. (more…)
LGBCE sticks with draft proposals
LGBCE Final Recommendations for wards in South Ashford
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) have published their Final Recommendations for ward boundaries for Ashford Borough Council (ABC).
The arrangement, fails to address the issues created by the shape of Victoria Ward and creates a worse situation than the existing boundaries. There is a now a smaller area of Watercress with only tenuous links to the remainder of the ward and a larger area north of the railway line, which as well as the Town Centre includes the new Crescent West development, Godinton Road and adjacent streets and the whole of Cobbs Wood industrial estate.
South Ashford Community Forum had put forward proposals for more compact, separate wards for South Ashford and Ashford Town Centre but LGBCE have adopted the arrangement originally proposed by ABC.
Vehicle Online Shopping Fraud
Fraudsters have been advertising vehicles and machinery for sale on various selling platforms online. The victims, after communicating via email with the fraudster, will receive a bogus email which purports to be from an established escrow provider (a third party who will keep the payment until the buying and selling parties are both happy with the deal).
These emails are designed to persuade victims to pay upfront, via bank transfer, before visiting the seller to collect the goods. The emails also claim that the buyer (victim) has a cooling off period to reclaim the payment if they change their mind. This gives victims the false sense of security that their money is being looked after by this trustworthy third party, when in fact it is not and the money has gone straight to the fraudster.
Protect yourself:
- When making a large purchase such as a new car or machinery, always meet the seller face to face first and ask to see the goods before transferring any money.
- If you receive a suspicious email asking for payment, check for spelling, grammar, or any other errors, and check who sent the email. If in doubt, check feedback online by searching the associated phone numbers or email addresses of the seller.
- Contact the third party the fraudsters are purporting to be using to make the transaction. They should be able to confirm whether the email you have received is legitimate or not.
- False adverts often offer vehicles or machinery for sale well below market value to entice potential victims; always be cautious. If it looks too good to be true then it probably is.
If you have been affected by this, or any other type of fraud, report it to Action Fraud by visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk, or by calling 0300 123 2040.
Action Fraud 12 June 2017
www.actionfraudalert.co.uk/da/182306/Vehicle%20Online%20Shopping%20Fraud.html
SACF June 2017 Meeting
T
he June 2017 Meeting of South Ashford Community Forum will take place
at 7:00 pm
on 28th June 2017
at South Ashford Baptist Church
Brookfield Road, TN23 4EY
The Agenda can be downloaded from this link and the Minutes of the March Meeting here. Both can also be downloaded from the Minutes and Agendas page.
We hope to be able to announce the result of the Council’s Bid for funds for Victoria Park from HLF and update on the Council’s plans for Victoria Park. There is also potential news about another major development in South Ashford.
Please do encourage your friends, colleagues and acquaintances, that live or work in South Ashford to come to this meeting.
Election Results
The results of the General Election and Victoria Ward By-election are:
Ashford constituency results |
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| Name of candidate | Party | Votes | % of Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damian GREEN | Conservative | (Elected) 35,318 | 59 |
| Sally GATHERN | Labour | 17,840 | 30 |
| Adrian GEE-TURNER | Liberal Democrat | 3,101 | 5 |
| Gerald O’BRIEN | UKIP | 2,218 | 4 |
| Mandy ROSSI | Green | 1,402 | 2 |
| The turnout was: 68.69%
Damian Green is therefore re-elected as MP for the Ashford constituency. |
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Victoria ward results |
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| Name of candidate | Party | Votes | |
| Charles SUDDARDS | Labour | (Elected) 1,052 | 45 |
| David ROBEY | Conservative | 753 | 32 |
| James GALLOWAY | Liberal Democrat | 260 | 11 |
| Serge GOLDENBERG | UKIP | 181 | 8 |
| Maria PIZZEY | Green | 99 | 4 |
| Turnout was 56.82%.
Charles Suddards now joins Cllr Dara Farrell (Labour) as ward member for Victoria. |
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