The Charity Commission has closed its regulatory compliance case into Lincolnshire Integrated Voluntary Emergency Service (LIVES) after it found that no further action was needed.
In April, the emergency care charity filed a serious incident report with the regulator following media reports of a culture of bullying and belittling staff at the organisation.
That month, the Commission opened a regulatory compliance case into LIVES to look at its governance and management.
Allegations of bullying from senior management were also raised in a critical inspection report published by the Care Quality Commission in January.
Meanwhile, a petition calling for LIVES’s first-ever chief executive Nikki Cooke to resign due to “inadequate leadership” gained more than 500 signatures.
No further action necessary
Yesterday, LIVES told Civil Society that the regulator had closed its case after visiting its trustees to discuss allegations made by former members of staff.
“Charity Commission officials visited LIVES and, after interviews with trustees and reviewing documentation, concluded no further action was necessary,” the charity said.
“The case is now closed.”
LIVES said that it “had always been confident there was ample evidence to counter any concerns raised”.
“We always said we were happy to present our case to the Charity Commission and we’re delighted it has resulted in a positive conclusion.”
Commission: ‘We’ve received the necessary asssurance’
In a letter sent to the trustees, the Commission wrote: “The trustees have provided us with extensive documentation and information, which when reviewed, has provided assurance on their governance of the charity, and how trustees have strengthened many policies and procedures.
“The trustees have also updated us through the report of a serious incident channel where issues that had been made public e.g. an online petition and media articles regarding the governance of the charity.
“This submission provided further assurance in relation to the trustees’ handling of the concerns raised.”
A spokesperson for the regulator told Civil Society: “In April, following an assessment of concerns raised with us, we opened a regulatory compliance case into LIVES.
“We have engaged extensively with the charity’s trustees to establish the facts and, at this time, we have received the necessary assurance they have been handling the matters raised appropriately and we have concluded our case.”
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