poppy brennan, Author at Tree House Care

Meet Dominic, Team Leader at our HQ in Grimsby. He’s been a qualified social worker for 18 years but before that worked in various roles, including within adult residential services and a housing association whilst living in Oxford. In a previous life he also worked on an assembly line making cars (Minis)!

“I enjoy all sorts of stuff, especially if it’s outdoors, including hiking, cycling, and I recently went skiing again after a break of 26 years! I also, from time to time, like to travel to far-flung places on my motorbike, the nicer the scenery the better. Sadly, I don’t have any pets, but if I did, I’d love to have a couple of cats and dogs. Perhaps when I retire! ”

Meet Dom …

Meet Dominic, Team Leader at our HQ in Grimsby and motorbike enthusiast!

Close up of legs and feet, walking along a path.

The Journey of Fostering: Walking the Road Together

Fostering is never just a job or a responsibility—it’s a journey. A journey that no one walks alone.

Girl leaning against brightly coloured wall. Eyes closed, smiling

Understanding the Default Mode Network – and Why It Matters for Our Children

The Default Mode Network becomes active whenever we are not focusing on a task. In children who have experienced trauma or disrupted attachment, their “default” is not a peaceful resting space – it is a difficult, sometimes frightening place to be. Using therapeutic caregiving, we can help their brain learn a new default setting.

Digital Worlds: What You Need to Know About AI Chatbots

AI is no longer something that belongs in science-fiction films or tech magazines. It’s already woven into the day-to-day lives of our children and we need to understand it so we can guide them safely through it.

Neurodivergence and Trauma: Supporting Executive Functioning in Children and Young People

Executive functions are the mental skills that help us plan, organise, focus, regulate emotions, and complete everyday tasks. For children who have experienced developmental trauma or who are neurodivergent, these skills can be harder to access, especially during moments of stress or change.

A Christmas Reflection: What Scrooge Can Teach Us About Fostering

As Christmas approaches, many of us revisit Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. On the surface, it’s a story about a grumpy old man learning to embrace generosity and joy, but if we look closer, it can also offer a powerful reflection on the journey of children and young people in care.

The Unseen Connection: How Hydration Supports Wellbeing for Carers and Traumatised Children

We often focus on emotional support, self-care, and therapeutic parenting, but one of the simplest ways to support both body and mind is often overlooked: hydration.

Expect It: Understanding Behaviour in Children Who Have Experienced Trauma

Rob tells us why, as foster carers, one of the most important things to remember is this simple phrase: “expect it.”