A former Real Housewives of Cheshire star has had her children’s home closed by Ofsted after one youngster went ‘without food for days’ and a second went missing and was sexually assaulted.
OnlyFans model Ampika Pickston, 42, who is engaged to West Ham chairman and former pornographer David Sullivan, 74, disputed the findings as the body concluded staff were unable to keep children safe.
Other incidents in the report included one child being taken to the director’s home – the registered director is Pickston – and another having to be moved to a hotel following serious bullying and threats within the home.
Inspectors judged the home ‘inadequate’ on all fronts and said staff failed to notify authorities of serious safeguarding incidents.
The home also lacked a manager with the required qualifications since September with Pickston instead overseeing it, Ofsted said – something she is said to dispute.
OnlyFans model Ampika Pickston, 42, who is engaged to West Ham chairman and former pornographer David Sullivan, 74, suffered the blow as the body concluded staff were unable to keep children safe
Pickston previously invited her social media followers on a tour of the home
As well as her reality TV career, Pickston founded Ampika’s Aesthetics, a firm which provides training in cosmetic procedures.
Her new venture, AP Care Homes, saw Pickston upload a video tour of the new home in March, ahead of its opening, saying: ‘Welcome to my home’.
Entering the living area, Pickston gasped excitedly and said: ‘I can’t wait to fill it!’
Declaring the house to be ‘filled with love and positivity’, Pickston continued: ‘This is about changing people’s lives, you could too.’
At the end of the video, a cutting error means viewers heard Pickston say: ‘Cut. I might do it again actually’.
She said at the time: ‘Can’t wait to finally open the doors to my extended family AP Care Homes.’
She continued: ‘We are providing a family home for 12 – 16 year old young people. There are many of us with big heart’s out there that have plenty of love, time and patience to do make a difference to the next generation.’
Ofsted’s November inspection found that children’s health needs are ‘not understood or met’ and that staff failed to adequately assess whether they could meet individuals needs before moving them into the home.
Just days before at the end of October, Pickston tweeted: ‘Nothing more rewarding than creating a home full of love for the next generation.
‘At AP Care Homes… life’s more rewarding when you can make a difference’.
The report said staff failed to identify that one child under its care was not eating regular meals, and at one point went two days without eating.
According to inspectors they failed to seek professional advice in a timely manner, and then ‘did not act’ on the advice they finally received.
As well as her reality TV career, Pickston founded Ampika’s Aesthetics, a firm which provides training in cosmetic procedures
The home, which had its own games room, was unable to keep children safe, Ofsted ruled
Pickston takes her social media followers around the home, pointing out pictures decorating the walls
Declaring the house to be ‘filled with love and positivity’, Pickston said: ‘This is about changing people’s lives’
On Friday AP Care Home’s Instagram account shared a post relating to the death of Ruth Perry, who took her own life following an Ofsted inspection at her primary school
Ofsted reported there were ‘significant and serious shortfalls were identified in relation to safeguarding practice’.
It raised concerns over children going missing from the home, adding: ‘Following one missing-from-care incident, a child alleged that they had been sexually assaulted.’
Inspectors said staff failed to inform Ofsted of the incident and record-keeping surrounding it was ‘poor’.
Bullying was described as ‘poorly managed’ with ‘significant’ incidents resulting one child being removed to a hotel due to threats to harm another.
Other issues included a lack of training for staff on how to support children’s mental health, despite one child self-harming and concerns of ‘a ligature risk’.
Staff also failed to explore the risks that the internet can pose to children, despite one child informing them they had accessed ‘unknown and potentially unsafe websites, including communicating with strangers via video messaging’.
New recruits were allowed to work in the home before proper vetting and checking of references had been completed, and children videoed a member of staff falling asleep when they were supposed to be caring for them on at least two occasions.
Basic record keeping was also criticised, with inspectors finding ‘no clear record of the children who live or have lived at the home’.
They also said the previous registered manager of the home and responsible individual had left their posts, and that there was no in-post manager at the time of the November inspection.
The former Real Housewives of Cheshire star is engaged to the chairman of West Ham
Ofsted reported there were ‘significant and serious shortfalls were identified in relation to safeguarding practice’
Pickston showed viewers the children’s home from the front door – the home has since been shut
Owners of a children’s home must appoint a manager who has worked for two years in the past five in a childcare position, and attained a relevant qualification.
On Friday, AP Care Homes shared a post on its Instagram page criticising Ofsted that included a news article about the death of Ruth Perry, a headteacher who took her own life after an Ofsted inspection rated her primary school ‘inadequate’.
An inquest found that the inspection ‘likely contributed’ to her death.
AP Care Homes said: ‘We campaign for truth, integrity and a regulatory body fit for purpose.
‘Ruth Perry’s passing has opened the eyes of many around the country. Ofsted will be accountable for many unethical, unfounded ways of how individuals and organisations are treated. RIP Ruth Perry.’
A spokesman for AP Care Homes told The Times: ‘AP Care Homes delivers care for children to the highest standards.
‘In December 2023, the company was forced to challenge a recent Ofsted report concerning the home at Moss Farm and consequent actions taken by Ofsted. As a result of its failings, Ofsted abandoned those actions and withdrew the report from circulation.
‘The company has been made aware that Ofsted has now taken the extraordinary step of publishing an amended report on January 17.
‘Having reviewed that amended report, the company has written to Ofsted to make clear that the amended report is as flawed as the earlier (withdrawn) report and the now abandoned steps taken by Ofsted. That is a matter that the company will pursue vigorously with Ofsted, as it did with Ofsted’s earlier discredited actions.’
AP Care Homes has been contacted for comment.
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