Nicola Rostron, partner and head of the elderly and vulnerable client team at top regional law firm Furley Page solicitors, has been appointed a deputy by the Court of Protection.

The Court of Protection oversees the affairs of people who lack the mental capacity to make their own decisions, and a deputy is appointed by the court to act for such vulnerable individuals.

The Court of Protection maintains a list of approved deputies for clients in situations where nobody close to the client is willing or able to act.

There were previously about 250 deputies but the Court recently announced an overhaul and invited applications to join a new panel.

The panel now consists of just 60 deputies and Nicola Rostron was chosen for this prestigious position after a rigorous eight-week process, which attracted more than 600 applicants. She is the only deputy appointed in East Kent, and one of only three in Kent. Nicola will act for people in matters relating to property, financial affairs, health and personal welfare.

Nicola, 44, is based at the Canterbury office of Furley Page but works from the Chatham office one day a week. She heads up a team of nine specialist lawyers who cover all elements of Court of Protection matters, wills, trusts, care funding and estate planning.

Nicola can use British Sign Language at level one and is planning to develop this skill further.

In another development, Furley Page has been accredited as a member of the Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) which recognises excellence in the home buying process.

Myfanwy McDonagh, partner and head of residential property at Furley Page, said: "CQS status is recognition of the high standards we provide to our residential property clients and is a signal to future home buyers of the excellent service level, and commitment to our clients, that we offer at what is often a stressful time."

Furley Page's 10-strong residential property team is based across all three of its offices in Canterbury, Whitstable and Chatham and the CQS accreditation means that each one of its team is covered by the scheme.