Lynne Ryan, Clinical Practitioner & Training Lead
Lynne Ryan joined Five Rivers in May 2024 as a Clinical Practitioner within our Clinical Services team. With more than 25 years of experience working therapeutically with children and families, Lynne brings a wealth of specialist knowledge in trauma, attachment, and dissociation. She is a qualified Counsellor, registered Social Worker, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapist, and an active member of several professional bodies.
Lynne now supports our fostering teams through trauma-informed practice, training, and clinical guidance, and her passion for helping children and families shines through in everything she does.
Jack Martin joined Five Rivers in July 2023, stepping into the role of Recruitment Resourcer.
Since joining, he has strengthened his skills, completed his apprenticeship, and become a valued member of a collaborative, supportive, and close-knit team.
Have you undertaken any qualifications whilst working at Five Rivers?
I completed my Level 2 Recruitment Resourcer Apprenticeship at the start of the year. The course gave me a range of new tools that I use every day, from improving my candidate searches to refining my workload management. I gained a great deal from completing the NVQ, which I passed with a Distinction.
What drew you to the Five Rivers, and what excites you most about our mission?
Being a Salisbury native, I’ve always known Five Rivers for its strong visibility and positive reputation in the city, growing from its Salisbury roots into a respected national Social Enterprise. Becoming part of the team and seeing the organisation’s values consistently lived out is what makes the role so enjoyable.
What do you enjoy most about working at Five Rivers?
There’s a real reward in knowing that every role contributes to turning children’s lives around. But above all, it’s the team that makes this work special. There’s a strong sense of camaraderie, support, and shared purpose, the kind of environment where people genuinely look out for one another and celebrate each other’s successes.
It’s a team that brings out the best in you.
Do you have any stand out moments during your time at Five Rivers community?
Completing my NVQ. It’s the first certificate I’ve achieved since 2012, and it feels great to have that recognition.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experiences working for Five Rivers?
It’s been an amazing experience so far, and I’m excited to see where we go.
What advice would you give anyone considering applying for a job at Five Rivers?
If you’re thinking about applying to Five Rivers, I’d say go for it. It’s a place with a great reputation, and once you’re in, you really feel part of an encouraging environment, where people genuinely look out for one another. The team culture is a big part of what makes the job enjoyable, and there are loads of opportunities to learn and grow. Plus, it’s meaningful work; whatever your role is, you know you’re helping create better outcomes for children.
Interested in working with Five Rivers?
If you’re ready to make a real difference, explore our current vacancies and find a role that helps turn children’s lives around.
Dan’s journey with Five Rivers began in March 2020 as a Residential Child Care Worker. His dedication and leadership quickly shone through, and he progressed to Team Leader, Senior Third in Charge, Deputy Manager, and ultimately became a Registered Manager at The Orchard, a position he has now held for two years.
Along the way, Dan supported other Five Rivers children’s homes, often travelling to ensure stability and care wherever it was needed, and built a reputation for strong leadership and commitment to children’s care.
Dan has not only achieved a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating at The Orchard, but also dramatically reduced staff turnover. Together with his team, he has created a loving, stable home for three children: two girls, aged 16 and 15, and a boy aged 11, who are thriving.
What qualifications and training have you done since being at Five Rivers?
I completed my Level 3 Apprenticeship in Residential Child Care, and my Level 5 in Management. I’ve been a Registered Manager for two years now, and I continue to learn and grow every day. I like being better today than I was yesterday.
What drew you to work at Five Rivers?
I started as a Residential Child Care Worker because I wanted to continue to work with children and the community. The job sounded interesting, and I liked the shift pattern.
At the time, I didn’t realise how different Five Rivers was compared to other children’s home providers, but now I see that our children don’t want for anything. We have the services and resources to really support them.
What excites you most about Five Rivers’ mission?
We can turn these children’s lives around because we have the tools to do that. I’ve got the freedom and flexibility to do what’s best for the children and my team. Honestly, it doesn’t feel like a job; these children are my children while they’re living in the home, and I look after them as I would my own.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
The work ethic here. People go out of their way to help one another, supporting each other and stepping forward when needed. The culture is strong and continually improving, with more exceptional individuals being developed, promoted, or joining the organisation. Job satisfaction is immense, and there are numerous opportunities for growth and development.
I’m grateful for the support I’ve had. I have future training lined up to support children leaving care, and I plan to train as a ProActive Approaches trainer (the ProActive Approaches course is mandatory training for staff working with children at Five Rivers).
I’m proud to work in a culture where contributions are noticed and appreciated. Recognition isn’t just a word; it’s something we do well here.
Do you have any standout moments?
Leading my home to a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating was a huge highlight for me and something I worked incredibly hard for.
When I initially became a manager, I had only three very new staff members, and previously the home had used carers from an agency. We were caring for two children with complex lives. It was the beginning of a challenging journey to achieve a ‘Good’ rating, and my first task was to guide us through that storm. We recruited, upskilled, and worked incredibly hard to now have a 6% turnover in the last 12 months. Earning a ‘Good’ rating required dedication and teamwork at every level, and I’m immensely proud of the collective effort that got us there. I now have a full team of qualified, experienced, passionate carers who are the best at what they do.
I have a platform at the next inspection to ensure we can achieve an ‘Outstanding’ rating.
Dan’s story is a testament to resilience, growth, and the power of a strong team culture. His journey shows what’s possible when passion meets opportunity.
Interested in working with Five Rivers?
If you want to join our national residential team, take a look at our current vacancies to find a role turning children’s lives around.
Melissa Bright, an experienced Manager, joined Five Rivers in 2024 to undertake a newly created role: Registered Service Manager for our first Supported Accommodation Service. Our Supported Accommodation homes are for children aged 16-18 and are the first of their kind for the organisation.
Melissa has opened and leads our first home, Clara House in Plymouth. The team at Clara House is passionate about easing the move on for children from children’s services to adulthood, to provide a stepping stone for independence, rather than a cliff-edge of care. The team works together to ensure that young people are prepared for successful outcomes after leaving care.
Melissa is now working closely with our Head of Residential Services to open our next home, Aurora House, early in 2026 .
Melissa on her journey at Five Rivers
Have you undertaken any qualifications whilst working at Five Rivers?
When I joined Five Rivers, I completed all of the fantastic bespoke training on offer, including attending our 6-week ATIC (Attachment, Trauma-Informed Care) training, which forms our research-based model of care. Five Rivers has supported me to attend supported accommodation conferences, events, and development days specifically tailored to supporting older children.
We are a member of the National Association of Support Accommodation Partners (NASAP). This has enabled my team and me to partake in weekly bite-sized sessions, collaborate with other providers, and attend workshops. I have been fortunate enough to have been nominated to be the Southwest Lead for the NASAP advisory board.
What drew you to Five Rivers, and what excites you most about our mission?
I wanted to work for an organisation that prioritises children over profit and embodies values that align with my own. I believe in being part of something that creates meaningful change that will result in better outcomes for children.
What do you enjoy most about working for Five Rivers?
Working at Five Rivers means being part of something truly meaningful. We’re providing homes for children who genuinely deserve safety, care, and stability. Every child matters to them, and no request is ever too much trouble. That commitment is reflected in how we work together across the organisation.
One of the things I value most is the ability to speak directly with colleagues about important issues. For example, being able to have real conversations with the HR team about safeguarding is far more effective than sending emails to a generic inbox and waiting days for a response. That kind of open communication helps us act quickly and efficiently, which is vital in the work we do.
What makes working for Five Rivers even more special is the team around me. I’m surrounded by people I trust and believe in, people who always put the children first. When you work with a team like that, why wouldn’t you want to be part of it?
Decision-making is a team effort. When it comes to referrals, it’s never just down to one person; we come together to consider what’s best for the young people in our care. That shared responsibility makes our work stronger and more thoughtful.
I genuinely feel proud to be part of this Social Enterprise. It’s something worth shouting about, from the rooftops, even. That pride comes from the little things, the everyday moments that show how much people care. And I truly believe that the people here are proud to work for Five Rivers. That’s why I advocate for it, because it deserves to be seen and celebrated.
Do you have any stand-out moments during your time at Five Rivers that you would like to share?
Overall, I would say that launching Five Rivers’ first Supported Accommodation at Clara House was a significant achievement. I’m so proud of this home and the hard work that my team and I have put into it.
It’s always lovely to be thanked and appreciated for the work I do, but that’s not why I do it. The real reward is seeing the home full of life, hearing the laughter of the children we support, and knowing that we’re helping to shape a brighter future for them.
Laura Garnett is a key member of the Clinical Services team, who work collectively within our Fostering, Residential, and Education services across Five Rivers and our Partnership Agencies.
Laura supervises an excellent team of Clinical Practitioners, Psychological Practitioners, and Assistant Psychological Practitioners working specifically within Fostering who offer various services including consultation, training, assessment and reflective spaces in their respective regions.
Her role is to oversee the operational aspect of this service to ensure that young people, Foster Carers and staff teams receive high-quality and trauma informed support.
Victoria leads with heart and vision, overseeing our 12 children’s homes and our first Supported Accommodation Service for 16-18-year-olds. Her energy, drive, and commitment to children have not only expanded the services we offer but also transformed the resources available to support children across the country.
Under her leadership, every one of our children’s homes has achieved a Good or Outstanding Ofsted grading – a reflection of the incredible care being delivered day in and day out. Vicci has also reduced staff turnover in residential services by 40%, creating the stability children desperately need and embedding a culture where staff feel proud, valued, and part of something bigger than themselves.
Victoria on her journey at Five Rivers
When I joined Five Rivers at the end of 2023, I was clear about my purpose: to really listen to the needs of local authorities and ensure that we, as a social enterprise dedicated to children, stepped up to meet them. Since then, we’ve grown from 8 to 12 children’s homes, registered our first Supported Accommodation Service, welcomed Life Change Care children’s homes into the Five Rivers community, and proudly opened our first children’s home in Cornwall. Every step of that journey has been about one thing – making sure more children can experience safety, belonging and hope for the future.
What excites you most about Five Rivers’ mission?
What excites me is that Five Rivers is practitioner-led and driven by our social purpose. There’s a real sense of collective passion here – everyone, from frontline staff to senior leaders, is genuinely invested in transforming children’s lives. That level of commitment is rare, and it’s inspiring to be part of.
What do you enjoy most about working at Five Rivers?
I have felt incredibly welcomed from day one. I’ve been trusted, supported, and believed in, which has allowed me to empower my team to feel the same way. That culture of belief is powerful – it creates a ripple effect where staff feel valued, children feel secure, and possibilities for change grow.
On making a difference for children
Too many children face a cliff edge of care at 16, when support often falls away. It’s a national issue, I feel deeply passionate about tackling. At Five Rivers, we are not standing by; we are creating solutions, providing supported accommodation, and ensuring that no child feels abandoned at such a critical point in their journey. I’m proud to be part of an organisation that not only recognises the challenges children face, but is bold enough to act. Together, we are changing lives for children, families, and the people who dedicate themselves to this work every single day.
“I love the satisfaction that comes with looking after mums and their babies, my job is to help them become more independent in looking after their children and to give them a shot at being a real family unit.”
Three inspiring women from the same family decided to become ‘parent and child’ Foster Carers. Lesley, the family matriarch, is encouraging others to consider the same rewarding career.
Lesley fosters for Five Rivers Child Care alongside her two daughters, Dominique and Roxanna. They specialise in parent and child placements – looking after mothers and their young children and helping them to remain together as a family unit.
Lesley, who has three grown-up children and still works part-time as a driving instructor, was encouraged into fostering by her eldest daughter, Dominique, after the unexpected loss of her husband, John, in 2013.
Lesley said: “Fostering was something John and I were considering before he passed away, so I wanted to continue his legacy and give it a try. We’d seen the difference Dominique makes in the lives of the children and young people she fosters, and having raised three children, I felt I had the experience to help me give something back, too.”
Not long after Lesley began fostering with Five Rivers Child Care, she undertook the specific training to take on parent and child placements, something there is a real shortage of across the UK.
Lesley continues: “I love the satisfaction of looking after mums and their babies. My job is to help them become more independent in looking after their children and give them a shot at being a real family unit. The mums who come to stay with me are from all different backgrounds; some have escaped abusive relationships, others have mental health issues, and I’ve had quite a few youngsters under 18 with their little ones. Some stay for the minimum three-month placement, but I’ve had others with me for up to ten months.
“The youngest baby I’ve looked after was just seven days old. The care I provide can be anything from taking on most of the responsibility for the child to having very young babies sleep in my bedroom with me. I watch over both mother and child and am ready to step in if my help is needed. It is lovely to see them grow into their roles as mothers during their time with me. I’m happy to say most of the placements I’ve had so far remain together and move on to more independent accommodation.”
Such is the family’s love for fostering that the youngest daughter, Roxanna, has also become a Foster Carer, following in Lesley’s footsteps and specialising in parent and child placements.
Lesley, Dominique, and Roxanna are shining examples of Foster Carers who have done an incredible amount to help looked after children and their mothers.
There is a huge shortage of Foster Carers nationwide and in the South West. Anyone can be a Foster Carer, but you must be over 21 years of age and have a spare room available for each foster child.
Find out if fostering is right for you by taking our fostering eligibility quiz, or contact our friendly Care Enquiries team for a chat.
“We always knew we wanted to do something more fulfilling and be able to give something back. My work-life has always been extremely stressful…I was looking for something that would give me more stability and job security and I’ve never looked back.”
Our foster carers, Cam and Clare, from the North of England, started fostering during lockdown. They share their experiences in the hope it will inspire others to think about fostering.
Cam left behind a career of more than 20 years as a chef and his wife Clare, who runs a local barber shop with her sister, made the decision to begin fostering during the pandemic. The couple raised their three sons together and they also helped raise Cam’s younger sister Gaby, from the age of 12, so they felt confident in their ability to support a child or young person.
Speaking about their decision to foster, Cam said: “The pandemic was the push we needed to kick-start the process. We always knew we wanted to do something more fulfilling and be able to give something back. My work-life has always been extremely stressful and I haven’t felt secure in the catering industry for a while so I was looking for something that would give me more stability and job security and I’ve never looked back.”
“To anyone who is thinking about becoming a foster carer, the main thing I can say is as long as you’ve got a good heart and a sense of humour, you could provide an incredible life for someone who really needs it.”
Find out if fostering is right for you by taking our fostering eligibility quiz, or contact our friendly Care Enquiries team for a chat.
“We enjoy a busy house and we always knew we had more to give. Taking in foster children felt natural and has brought our whole family closer together. Our daughters have also been approved as part-time carers to support us in our efforts as foster carers.”
Our foster carers, Kim and Andy from the South West of England, share their experiences in the hope it will encourage others to consider fostering.
Kim is a former contact worker, whose role saw her supporting children and their parents during supervised meets, and her husband Andy is a site manager across several local primary schools. Together they have provided a safe and loving home for many children and young people over the last two years as foster parents.
Reflecting on their decision to foster, Kim said: “We enjoy a busy house and we always knew we had more to give. We were already a blended family in more ways than one. Taking in foster children felt natural and has brought our whole family closer together. Our daughters have also been approved as part-time carers to support us in our efforts as foster carers.”
“All of our birth children have a great relationship and they have always welcomed and embraced any foster children that come into our home which is so lovely to see. It’s such a privilege to be a part of these children’s lives and our only regret is that we didn’t do this sooner.”
Find out if fostering is right for you by taking our fostering eligibility quiz, or contact our friendly Care Enquiries team for a chat.
“Because of my upbringing, fostering or adopting is something I have always known we would do and we’ve ended up doing both. This was a turning point in our lives and we haven’t looked back.”
Alex, from the North of England, was adopted at birth and wants to encourage more people to think about fostering.
A former teacher and her husband Stephen, a former police officer, they have been fostering since 2019. Alex has always wanted to be able to help children who need a safe and loving home, in the same way she was supported growing up.
Speaking about the decision to foster, Alex said: “I was adopted within a matter of weeks of being born, my adoptive parents have always been my mum and dad and have loved me and cared for me as their own. Because of my upbringing, fostering or adopting is something I have always known we would do and we’ve ended up doing both. This was a turning point in our lives and we haven’t looked back.”
Find out if fostering is right for you by taking our fostering eligibility quiz, or contact our friendly Care Enquiries team for a chat.