Victoria Elworthy, Head of Residential Services
Thursday 11 September 2025
Last updated: Friday 12 September 2025
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.
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.