TV star's children's home loses appeal to reopen

Ampika Pickston is the director of the Altrincham care home

A reality TV star's children's home has lost an appeal to reopen at a tribunal which found it had a "very serious history of failure in a very short time".

The Altrincham home, run by Real Housewives of Cheshire star Ampika Pickston's firm AP Care Homes Limited, has been banned by Ofsted from taking new placements due to safety concerns.

A tribunal held earlier this month dismissed the firm's appeal against the Ofsted decision, as it found there was still a "reasonable risk" of harm to children living at the home.

In a statement, AP Care Homes said it would remain "fully operational" should the ban, which is scheduled to be reviewed by Ofsted, be lifted on 11 July.

'Safeguarding failures'

The home for vulnerable children, in Hale Barns, was rated "inadequate" in November 2023, after an inspection found "serious and widespread safeguarding failures".

It has effectively been closed since the end of January this year, when Ofsted barred any further children from being placed there.

It follows a number of events of "particular concern", involving a child living at the home who suffered a "significant impact on their emotional wellbeing" - according to inspectors.

Monitoring visits in March and April found some action had been taken to improve the situation, but inspectors "were not satisfied there was evidence of real progress".

Problems highlighted included a lack of stable leadership, unsafe recruitment practices and a dearth of staff training.

High turnover

In its appeal, the home, which was first registered in June 2023, argued that Ofsted had failed to take into account its efforts to change in response to inspectors' findings, including hiring more qualified staff.

Giving evidence, an Ofsted inspector said of the four children cared for since the home opened, two had had their placements "ended abruptly" because the provider could not meet their needs, or keep them safe.

The other two children were moved "suddenly, due to serious and widespread safeguarding concerns".

The home has not had a registered manager since 12 September 2023, and has seen a high turnover in staff, inspectors found.

The tribunal said this showed an "extremely high level of lack of compliance".

Dismissing AP Care Homes' appeal, the tribunal found it was "proportionate and necessary" for Ofsted's ban on placements to remain in place "in light of the history" of the care home.

In a statement, AP Care Homes said it had planned "placements of young children moving into the home" should the ban be lifted.

The regulator issued the restriction notice on 19 April, and, according to Ofsted guidance, aims to review notices within 12 weeks.