Regulator launches statutory inquiry into private provider

The Charity Commission has launched an inquiry into one of the largest private mental health providers over safeguarding and financial concerns.

The regulator has confirmed the regulatory compliance case it opened earlier this year into the St Andrew’s charity has been “escalated” to a statutory inquiry.

It said the initial case was launched to “assess concerns about the oversight of safeguarding provision by the trustees of the charity, the financial viability of the charity and the wider governance, management and administration of the charity by its trustees”.

It also pointed to concerns raised last summer after St Andrew’s submitted a serious incident report, concerning “potential mistreatment of patients” at the charity’s Northampton site.

St Andrew’s is one of the biggest independent providers to the NHS and was placed in special measures in December. It was prevented from accepting new patients last summer after revelations of poor care, and an “inadequate” Care Quality Commission rating.

The hospital is also the subject of three police investigations, with 15 staff members arrested following abuse and neglect allegations.

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Source: HSJ, 23 June 2026