Fostering History

Five Rivers was formed in 1989 as a small residential project with homes flowing throughout the South West. Regarded by many as early pioneers of the private sector, specifically working with children damaged and traumatised through sexual and physical abuse.

Over the years Five Rivers has gained a well-deserved reputation for providing sector leading residential services throughout the UK. Due to the multiple success of our residential treatment programmes,A specialist Family Placement Service was formed in 1995 to find families for children and young people exiting our residential services.

Fostering and Family Placement Services have undergone many changes in the last twenty years since the inception of the Children's Act of 1989. Children and Young People previously thought unfosterable and would of been placed in a long-term Residential Children's Home are now placed and flourishing within Foster Care.

In order to meet the demand for our high quality and experienced provision we have extended this service throughout England and also became the first private provider in to operate Ireland.

Longitudinal research has consistently shown that there is a high breakdown rate for long-term placements; particularly amongst children / young people and sibling groups. Our own breakdown rate is considerably lower than the national average due to the support systems integral to our Family Placement Service. In order to ensure the continued development of our successful Family Placement Service, our aim is to provide a safe and secure family living environments for children throughout the U.K.

Our philosophy of 'Family Placement' is encapsulated in the phrase 'Professional Child Care from a Home Base' and our high expectations of our Foster Carers are accordingly the same as for all professionals involved in Children's Services.

This extends across all areas of work undertaken including child care practices, assessments, report writing and attendance at meetings. Five Rivers welcomes a multi-disciplinary approach. We are able to accommodate children in the 0 - 18 age range, and can offer supervised contact and initial therapeutic assessments. Most areas are able to provide placements for a child or children to be looked after in a safe and supportive environment by their parent whilst their needs are assessed and the ability of their parents to meet those needs is assessed and supported.

Five Rivers can provide a wide range of multi-disciplinary through our Five Fundamental Services, family placements at Five Rivers include,

• Permanency
• Respite
• Parent and Child Assessments
• Bridging Independence

Alongside the more traditional short and long term placements. We specialise in working with children looked-after who have experienced multiple placements, trauma, attachment issues, abuse, educational and learning difficulties.

National Family Placement Services

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