Overview

• Judge Siobahn Goodrich’s first-tier tribunal found a “significant” risk to children’s health, well-being and safety and refused Pickston’s challenge to keep the home open.
• An Ofsted report detailed how a child went missing and later made a sexual assault allegation with safeguarding actions described as unclear and undocumented.
• Inspectors judged the home’s arrangements for protecting children as ineffective and criticised Pickston’s problematic approach to staff that overruled management decisions.
• Evidence showed a high turnover of managers who voiced concerns about care policies with Pickston, undermining consistency in the home’s leadership.
• Despite the home’s high-end facilities, Pickston has accused Ofsted of bullying staff into negative statements and plans to produce a documentary about her experience.