Cygnet Hospital Maidstone is a member of the Triangle of Care and we are committed to ensure Carer Involvement and Carer Support from day one.

If you want to find out more the Triangle of Care (TOC) please visit the Carers UK website.

Carer Support Team at Cygnet Hospital Maidstone

Whether you need information, a moment to talk, or guidance on how to take care of yourself. Supporting YOU is at the heart of what we do!

Please reach out to our dedicated Carer Lead Team:

Email: [email protected]

General Manager
Tina Stevens
Tel: 01622 580 407
Email: [email protected]

Carer Lead
Jutta Neumann
Tel: 01622 580 330
Email: [email protected]

Saltwood Ward
Saskia Hills — Social Worker Carer Lead
Tel: 01622 580 440
Email: [email protected]

Kingswood Ward
Helen Whitehead — Social Worker Carer Lead
Tel: 01622 580 363
Email: [email protected]

Roseacre Ward
Innocent Mudingo — Social Worker Carer Lead
Tel: 01622 580 355
Email: [email protected]

Bearsted Ward
Perri Osborne — Head of Social Work Carer Lead
Tel: 01622 580 403
Email: [email protected]

Rebecca Odubonojo
Social Work Assistant/Carer Lead Assistant
Tel: 01622 580 321
Email: [email protected]

Tailored Information for Family Friends and Carers

The following booklet provides tailored information for each of our four services at Cygnet Hospital Maidstone.

Carer Support Newsletter

Please find our newest edition of our Carer Support Newsletter here:

Online Carer Support Group

We also have a regular online support group. Please find our yearly program here:

Visiting Cygnet Hospital Maidstone

Cygnet Hospital Maidstone acknowledges that Family, friends and carers are an important part of our service users’ lives. We actively encourage visits from anyone who would like to visit. All visitors need to be approved prior to their first visit by our ward Social Worker.

Prior to visiting – We ask for at least 24 hours-notice when planning a visit. This is to allow us to assess the service user to ensure that they are comfortable with the visit and to confirm room availability. Furthermore it means that planned sessions and activities can go ahead as normal.

There is a dedicated visitor’s room for your visits. Visits are supervised, a member of staff will / may sit inside or outside of the room, observing the visit. This is purely for safety reasons.

Day of visit – On arrival to Cygnet Hospital Maidstone you will need to enter the main reception. On entering, please inform reception staff who you are there to see and for which ward. Please sign in the visitors book and obtain a visitors badge. If you are bringing items to give to your loved one, you may be asked to allow us to search your bag to ensure no contraband items are there. This is a safety and security measure for you and the people on the unit.

Visits by Children

Children may visit on an individually assessed basis, subject to risk assessment. The visit will take place in a comfortable room off the ward.

The hospital has a written policy on the arrangement for patients receiving visits from children. In some cases visits from children may require an assessment by our social worker prior to them being able to visit. A visit by a child should only take place following a decision that such a visit would be in the child’s best interest. These visits must be booked at least 48hours in advance.

Visiting Times

Cygnet Hospital Maidstone is fairly flexible with visiting times, although after lunch is most preferred at weekdays.

Due to protected times for meals and medication, we cannot facilitate visits between 12:00 – 13:00 and 17:00 – 18:00.

What not to bring

Gifts are welcome for service users, where appropriate. We do have a contraband list and we ask visitors to not bring any items listed as contraband to ensure the safety of our service users, visitors and staff at all times.

• Batteries
• Alcohol
• Any sharp instrument or tools
• Blue Tac / Chewing Gum / Medicines
• Plastic / carrier bags or cling film
• Cleaning products (including bleach) / illicit drugs / solvents
• Firearms or replica firearms
• Illicit drugs or “legal highs”
• Knives of any sorts
• Lighters/ matches / lighter fuel and pressurised canister
• Liquids (harmful / corrosive and or flammable)
• Metal coat hangers / string / ropes / cords, etc.
• Illegal pornographic material
• Extension Cables or Leads

You will be asked when signing in if you have any of these items and may be asked to search your bags before entry to the unit.

However this list is not exhaustive. We also have a restricted item list which is assessed on an individual service user/ ward basis. If you wish to bring specific items that may be on this list, please discuss with the ward team.

Young Carers

Could it be there is a Young Carer in your household?

As many as 1 in 5 children and young people are young carers in the UK. A Young Carer is a child or a young person under 18 who provides regular and ongoing care and emotional support to a family member. Some begin giving care from a very young age, and others become carers overnight.

Don’t stay silent! Reach out to your GP, to EARLY HELP, the Family Hub, the Young Carer Ambassador in school or speak to us!

Access the support Young Carers need and know they are not alone.

Imago offers services throughout Kent, East Sussex and the London boroughs of Bexley, Greenwich, Havering, and Southwark.

Website: www.imago.community/young-carers-services/young-carers-services
Phone: 0300 011 1110

Support in the community / Kent

From 1 August 2026, a new Adult Carer Support Services (16+ caring for an adult) will be in place. The new service will be delivered by two organisations – one covering East Kent and one covering West Kent. It brings together carers’ assessments, information, advice, support and short breaks into a single service, making it easier for carers to access the help they need.

Website: www.involvekent.org.uk/how-can-we-help/caring-for-someone/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0330 320 4444

Involve will cover Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone & Hythe, and Thanet, supporting thousands of unpaid carers across East Kent.

And Imago will cover Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley. Imago supports unpaid Adult Carers aged 18+ and Young Adult Carers 16+ caring for an adult.

Website: www.imago.community/carers-services/carer-support
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0300 011 1965

Kent County Council stated: “The new contract brings together carers’ assessments, information, advice, support and short breaks into a single service, making it easier for carers to access the help they need.”

You will find out more on their websites. Please do have a look!

You can support us

Your voices help us to shape our Carer Support Service and are important to us. If it matters to you it matters to us!

You can support us by completing a Satisfaction Survey. Thank you for taking the time!

Survey links:

Acute/PICU – Bearsted Ward

Scan the QR Code to complete the survey.

Health Care Inpatient (non-Acute / PICU) – Saltwood Ward, Kingswood Ward, Roseacre Ward

Scan the QR Code to complete the survey.