Daniel Wright, From Residential Care Worker to Registered Manager
Wednesday 14 January 2026
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.