support worker

home care worker

deputy manager

registered children's manager

teaching assistant

Esland-Group

The role of Professional Care Provider is challenging, and you will be working long hours. No two days are the same and you will be kept busy caring for the needs of the young people in your home, as well as managing the day-to-day running of a large family home. 

Hours and Pay - I work a 3 on 3 off shift pattern with 2 sleeps. So, your working day will be 15/16 hours, plus the 8 hours you are there for each sleep. A £60 payment is made for each sleep that you complete. Hourly pay is competitive, and given the amount of hours that are worked each month, along with sleep payments, there is potential to earn a healthy income. It is important to note that whilst you are contractually obliged to work sleeps, the amount of sleeps is not guaranteed and these are shared out amongst the staff on rota.

Work Life Balance - As you will work on a shift pattern, you will be working your 3 on, 3 off wherever the days fall in the week. So, if having weekends off work is important, this role will not suit. Personally, I find having 3 days off in a row a bonus, and it did not take me long before I really did not mind which day of the week that my shifts fell on. 

There have been times where I have needed emergency time off, or some flexibility in my hours. My personal experience is that Esland have helped me where they can, and assisted me when I have needed help. There are times where shifts need covering, and there are usually opportunities for overtime within your home, or others that may be short on staff. 

Management - Esland appears to constantly review its performance, practices and management. I have found that in the time I have been in my role there has been a lot of positive changes. Managers are now more supported, and this is reflected in how the Managers are able to support their staff. Esland have a genuine desire to seek outstanding outcomes for young people as well as for their staff.

In summary, being a Carer at Esland is hard work, but it will be rewarding in many ways. Honest, and regular communication within your team, and with Managers, is key to the success of a young persons placement, and your own well being. 

I have had many previous jobs, but this is truly the only one that I feel proud to do.

Esland care took over the company I originally worked for and since then things have not been great! The company expanded far too quick without secure plans which has seen vast amounts of short staff, homes closing down, and lack of direct support. Paperwork through the company is far too much and they continuously change documentation that works, so then when OFSTED and they ask you about documentation it’s hard to explain as those completing documentation are unsure of how to explain and when asked higher up the chain to area managers and above they are unable to explain this also. Maintenance of the homes is diabolical it’s a profit making company in many aspects then when you receive backlash for the environment not looking homely it falls onto the homes instead of all the work that has been passed over to the maintenance team. Salaries are some of the lowest throughout the care sector, there are no time served bonuses, pay slips are confusing  and very little encouragement to stay within the company. The company focusses on the wrong aspects from a family home point of view as this also based on money. No views or expressions are taken well and causes backlash due to area managers or directors not liking people’s views! You aren’t listened to by the company however homes managers try their best to support you with resources they have. Higher personal express they are child orientated however forcing placements when the young people do not match is not the way forward as it has resulted in many break downs within the home, again this links to funds coming into the company. 

Every RCP, SRCP,AM, and homes managers try their best by the young people in their care and it does not feel valued. I’ve worked in care for 8 years this being my third company, I wouldn’t recommend Esland unless your happy to stay quiet, don’t bring things to their attention, and have a low end salary.  If it wasn’t for the team I support and young people in the home I would’ve left! 

This is the worst company I have ever worked for. The social media posts, website and their promise of staff investment, working for a company which truly values you, was what first attracted me to the role however it couldn’t be more opposite. After leaving a company that was child centred, where the young people were well looked after, cared for and had their needs met as I was looking for a new opportunity I can honestly say it was the worst mistake I have made. Working for Esland has shown me everything what is wrong with the social care system, where the company is just focused on money for their directors at the expense of vulnerable children's lives.

The company is full of empty promises, recruiting staff for homes that aren’t operational and won’t be for a while so they expect their staff to travel miles, out of their own region. Poor management support and very poor standards of the home. I can’t speak for all the homes but the ones I unfortunately worked in were inadequate, very outdated ,it was very clear no money is spent on modernising the homes or making the homes homely for these young people, even when doing the food shop we have to choose between frozen vegetables or meat for our dinner as the budget doesn’t cover it. Staff often using their own money to cover costs such as parking, bread, milk etc. Homes unclean, with a lack of resources and daily essentials. Staff completing paperwork as a tick box exercise and not being factual, or actually helping the young people meet their goals. 

Its a shame the CEO doesn’t spend more time in the homes, as I would be ashamed to have my name as the head of a company, that cares so little about the very reason we do this job, for the young people! 


I have been with Esland, working in the Education side of the organisation for over a year and can confidently say it is a transformative place to work. The impact on children's lives is profound, and knowing our efforts contribute to their growth is incredibly rewarding. The company's culture of accountability ensures that everyone is committed to delivering their best, fostering an environment where excellence thrives.

Managerial support here is exceptional. Management is approachable and genuinely invested in their team's professional development, providing guidance and encouragement. This support extends to interactions with other employees, promoting a collaborative and friendly atmosphere. Colleagues are always willing to share knowledge and lend a hand, making teamwork seamless and enjoyable.

One area that could be improved is communication regarding strategy and company direction. While day-to-day operations are clear and well-organised, occasionally there is a lack of clarity about long-term goals and changes in direction. Enhancing this aspect would ensure that all employees are aligned and working towards common objectives with a better understanding of the company's future.

Overall, Esland is a fantastic place to work, offering meaningful work, a supportive culture, and a strong sense of community among employees. The positives far outweigh the negatives, making it a highly recommended workplace for those passionate about education and making a difference.

I will be honest and say very supportive for my apprenticeship, and loved the role / people at the time. However over a year later, with so many changes at head office, people leaving, change in senior roles constantly etc, the culture has changed drastically. For example...

I have always given 110% for the company, but with new office politics and other factors made it much harder, and generally felt mentally drained. 

There seems to be too much of a blame culture which sadly forced me to look elsewhere after a very promising start with Esland and high hopes of management. 

The main reason for leaving was starting an apprenticeship in one area, but not being able to continue doing that type of work which is why I originally applied for the apprenticeship in the first place. Therefore I felt management had not taken this onboard and forced my hand to be able to help elsewhere. 

I tried to stay and fight for the company I once loved and worked so much for, as their were positives to fight for like my amazing former colleagues, unfortunately, management ideologies changed and things became progressively worse, feeling like I was taken advantage of, it was not meant to be. 



Joining Esland was one of the best career decisions I’ve made. As an experienced Registered Manager, I was happy in my previous role but decided to explore a new sector—and Esland made the transition seamless. From day one, the company was welcoming and professional, and the induction process was the best I’ve ever had, covering everything I needed to feel confident in my new role.

During my probation period, I received regular supervision and felt fully supported by my team. I spent two incredible years as a Registered Manager, achieving great successes with both my team and the young people we supported. Wanting to further broaden my experience, I applied for an internal role in another sector within Esland. The process was smooth, and after a successful interview, I’ve been thriving in my new position for the last few weeks.

Esland truly values its employees, offering excellent support, development opportunities, and career progression. It’s a fantastic place to work, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fulfilling career.


The company has come a long way in the space of 2 years since I started. The improvements that have been made are fantastic and they are continuing to improve day by day. All the homes are unique and different in their own way and we strive to ensure all the young people are safe and cared for. At our home, we work together as team and we are a big family! We laugh together, we cry together but most important we have fun together. We are a great team! #teamwork 
There are ample opportunities to learn and develop within the company from job roles, training and learning from each other. 
The role will always come with their challenges, however the good days outweigh the bad. You get to do some really fantastic activities. We are a home from home and ensure the young people feel safe and secure. The chance to make a difference in young people lives, is what I love about my job! The roles at Esland are so rewarding to see the young people achieve and meet goals they never think they can achieve. #proud
Grab your opportunity now and visit the Esland website for exciting new job roles - everyone has a chance to make a difference. Be part of a fantastic team! 

The company provides a service for young people who have experienced significant trauma, the job isn’t for the faint hearted or for anyone who cannot commit to the role. The children in placement require staff around them who understand the complexities of their lives and how this can truly impact their behaviour and presentation. The company has its flaws as many do, but they have the resources to really support young people to progress. Changes have been made to ensure homes receive sufficient support and training, the regionals are fantastic and there region sizes have reduced significantly meaning they can provide more supports to homes managers, the clinical team provide invaluable support to staff teams and the quality assurance team ensures homes and managers are working within regulations and provides advice and guidance where needed. Some of the best and most committed registered managers with fantastic staff teams. The business is working incredibly hard to ensure that there are effective internal monitoring systems and that safeguarding is the up most priority. 

I had a good manager so I stopped longer than expected. They attempted to change the complacent work culture but this was very hard for them. lots of training opportunities are provided but the culture of cheating through training to progress quickly is worrying and this is encouraged by levels from top to bottom. My other grumble is Ignoring kids because they are too busy playing on their phones or can’t be bothered.It is disheartening. The staff turn around is high. If like me, you came to learn and feel rewarded by helping children and young people to flourish, you may find the culture difficult to turn a blind eye too. I worked in a number of these homes in the company and they have some really dedicated and caring people who do a great job, but there are  a high number of staff who don’t care enough to make a difference and this isn’t dealt with because they get away with doing nothing due to the desperation of retaining staff. 

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Support worker 208 salaries reported	£13.33 per hour
Home care worker 90 salaries reported	£13.51 per hour
Deputy manager 59 salaries reported	£36,779 per year
Registered children's manager 66 salaries reported	£49,492 per year
Teaching assistant 12 salaries reported	£23,354 per year

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