Meet the Team: Introducing Mariechen Van Rooyen
At Tyre Hill House, the quality of our work is shaped by the people behind it. Our team brings together a wide range of professional experience, practical expertise and personal insight, all of which play a vital role in how families are supported and how assessments are carried out.
We’re pleased to introduce Mariechen Van Rooyen, who has recently joined Tyre Hill House as House Manager. With a career spanning children’s safeguarding, residential parenting assessment and leadership roles across the UK and internationally, Mariechen brings a depth of experience that strengthens both our practice and our culture. Her background reflects a long-standing commitment to child welfare, fair assessment and compassionate, trauma-informed work with families.
In this Q&A, Mariechen shares more about her professional journey, what drew her to Tyre Hill House, and what she feels is most important when supporting families through residential assessment.
Can you tell us a little about your professional background and what led you to work in children’s services and residential family assessment?
My background is in children’s services and safeguarding, with experience across a wide range of settings both in the UK and internationally. I trained in South Africa, completing a Bachelor of Social Science with Honours, and began my career working in marriage counselling, substance misuse services and mental health teams.
My journey into children’s care and safeguarding really began when I worked in Child Welfare services, supporting children and families in complex situations. After taking time away following the birth of my son, I returned to work in children’s safeguarding teams and went on to hold senior practitioner and management roles, largely within Childline.
I came to the UK in 2001 and worked across several local authorities and London boroughs in children’s safeguarding teams. Since then, I have specialised in residential parenting and family assessment, working in residential and community-based settings as well as as an Independent Social Worker. I have remained in this field for the past 15 years.
Throughout my career, I have worked in a variety of roles and environments, which has shaped my approach to assessment and safeguarding. This experience has reinforced the importance of balanced, evidence-based practice that is fair, thorough and always centred on children’s needs.
You’ve worked across a wide range of roles and settings, both in the UK and internationally. Which experiences have most shaped how you approach your work today?
I believe that we learn from all our experiences if we open our minds. A desire to learn from others and to consider how to apply the knowledge and skills we acquire in different settings helps. Maintaining an inquisitive outlook is a helpful tool in many work settings but more so in safeguarding children. I have worked with some outstanding managers who were excellent role models - how to deal with a crisis without blaming and to always be solution focused.
I have a particular interest in working with parents with learning and/or mental health needs to ensure that they are treated kindly and fairly and understand their assessments so they can fully engage in the process. I am a firm believer that fathers are equally good parents to mothers. That people all over the world have the same needs for kindness and respect, that we are all different and that is good.
What attracted you to Tyre Hill House, and to the role of House Manager?
People who have suffered trauma need a safe place where they can learn to trust before they address their trauma. Tyre Hill House is a calm and beautiful environment with a team that can offer just this and I look forward to supporting parents be able to take on their journey to heal in this environment. I am excited to work with a team who I can learn from and with who I can share my learning to help them to develop and achieve their goals.
What do you see as the most important elements of a fair and effective residential family assessment?
A fair and effective assessment is achieved through working together with the parent - that they share decision making and understand each step of the way and everything written about them. Information gathering that covers all parenting domains through robust observation that records strengths and areas to develop in a balanced and fair way. Assessment must always include development and learning for the parent. Support for parents to remain or become independent.
This can be achieved by a knowledgeable and emphatic staff team who want the best outcome for the child, such as we are fortunate to have at Tyre Hill House. The child must always be the at centre of the process. The assessment report must inform and assist the judge to make a decision that will be in the best interest of the child.
Families can understandably feel anxious during assessment. What do you think makes the biggest difference in helping parents feel supported and understood?
The assessment process is extremely stressful for parents. When we ask parents what they need most, the answer is almost always ‘to be heard’. We must listen, understand the perspective of the parent, communicate with them in a way that suits their needs or style of learning and always be honest with them. Kindness goes a long way - a friendly reception, a kind word, a personal welcome, patience, understanding. But we must not take over their parenting.
What are you most looking forward to in your role at Tyre Hill House?
To work with and learn form the well-informed and enthusiastic team. To ensure the safety of all the children that come to Tyre Hill House.
We’re delighted to welcome Mariechen to the team and look forward to the positive impact she will continue to have on families, staff and the wider service.
