Residents and families of those living in a care home have been told it could close.

A meeting was held today about the future of Blackburn Lodge in Broadway, Sheerness.

Residents and their families met with staff and Kent County Council (KCC) to discuss proposals to shut the home.

The council plans to focus on helping people live in their own homes under a scheme called Housing with Care, where people can live independently with high levels of care.

It says it wants to reduce social isolation, promote independence and offer an alternative to formal care and residential homes.

Cabinet member for adult social care and health, Cllr Clair Bell (Con), said: "Kent County Council understands how strongly people feel about the future of Blackburn Lodge and the care services available on the Isle of Sheppey.

“Increasingly, people want to be supported to live independently in their own homes with the best care to meet their needs. Traditional residential models of care are becoming less desirable.

'Kent County Council understands how strongly people feel about the future of Blackburn Lodge' - Cllr Clair Bell

“In line with these needs, the council is commissioning fewer residential services and investing in a variety of enablement and preventative services to flexibly meet people’s needs at home and support them to live as independently as possible.”

The care home was assessed by the Care Quality Commission in 2018 and rated "good" in all areas.

It was said it could cater for up to 35 older people, although there were only 24 living there at the time.

As well as being a permanent home, it also offered respite care.

Inspectors said residents had a variety of conditions, such as diabetes and epilepsy.

Their report concluded: "People and their relatives thought the service was well run.

"People knew the registered manager well and were very happy with the service provided."

An inspection carried out in 2016 had also concluded the service was "good" overall.

The consultation will run from today until Tuesday, March 31.

Following that, a report will be sent to the Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee in May and the cabinet member is due to make a final decision in June.

The idea was previously considered in 2015 along with the closure of three other care homes elsewhere in Kent.

For more information, visit www.kent.gov.uk/blackburnlodgeconsultation or collect a paper form and freepost envelope from the home or a library to Consultation Team, Adult Social Care and Health, Kent County Council, Invicta House, Maidstone, ME14 1XX.

Read more: All the latest news from the Isle of Sheppey