Special measures imposed on Ivetsey Bank Hospital following 'inadequate' CQC rating
Inspection reveals significant concerns in safety and management
Last updated 2nd Jul 2026
Ivetsey Bank Hospital in Staffordshire has been placed into special measures after the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated its child and adolescent mental health wards as inadequate.
The hospital, run by Active Young People Limited, serves young people aged 12-17 with diagnosed mental health conditions.
The CQC's decision follows inspections in March and April, prompted by incidents where young people experienced harm due to self-harm and restraint.
Inspectors issued two warning notices and identified multiple breaches of regulations regarding person-centred care, safety, premises, management, and staffing.
The hospital's overall rating, along with ratings for safety and leadership, has been downgraded from good to inadequate.
Caring aspects have shifted from requires improvement to inadequate, while effectiveness and responsiveness ratings remain at requires improvement.
Special measures involve close monitoring to ensure safety while improvements are made, providing a structured timeframe for necessary changes.
Gemma Berry, CQC’s deputy director of mental health in the West Midlands, commented on the hospital's lack of effective risk management and oversight of care quality.
Berry revealed that staff didn't consistently feel respected or supported, with fears of repercussions for raising concerns affecting the hospital's culture and safety.
Despite these issues, inspectors noted positive steps in discharge planning and collaboration with commissioners.
Berry emphasised the importance of ongoing monitoring to ensure young people receive safe care at the facility.
A spokesperson from Active Care Group said: "We are disappointed by the outcome of the recent CQC inspection at Ivetsey Bank Hospital and fully recognise the concerns identified within the report.
"The safety and quality of care we provide to children and young people remains our highest priority.
"We have carefully reviewed the findings and are already implementing a comprehensive improvement programme focused on strengthening leadership, governance, clinical oversight and the overall patient experience.
"We have already made progress in a number of areas and are working closely with the CQC, commissioners and NHS partners to deliver further sustained improvements."