Pros
I have worked in the residential childcare sector for 15 years, I have worked for three corporate companies and have been with Five Rivers since January 2025. Five Rivers are a social enterprise, they reinvest a surplus back into the organisation, as the regional operations manager i see and feel the impact of this reinvestment. All of my homes I have RI responsibilities for have registered managers, they are all full, and they are all rated as good. The homes are beautiful, repairs are completed within hours, both myself and the managers have autonomy over our budgets, and if the children need anything, a bike, a TV, a holiday, tutoring, a concert, an inflatable swimming pool, then they have this, without delay. The organisation has invested in research informed attachment and trauma informed training, each home has a clinician that visits weekly. The clinician attends all relevant meetings about the child. The organisation invests in its workforce, maternity leave, compassionate leave and bereavement leave is excellent, HR support is excellent. The head of service knows every single child and staff member. This sets it apart from the silo working ive previously experienced, and huge profit making organisations, where ive had to request a new washing machine, or new windows, with some delay in getting it. There are development opportunities for all, and all of our children's homes fostering service and schools are all rated good or outstanding.
Cons
none. Its a phenomenal organisation, that is 35 years in- they have gone through a period of leadership changes over the last coupe of years but this has only strengthened the organisation.
