Sharon Fudge is our Recruitment Partner and she’s responsible for attracting, screening, and selecting candidates who share Esland’s values. She began by recruiting across the Central region before leading the large-scale Shropshire project, which required filling more than 80 vacancies to open six new homes. Sharon works closely with managers to understand their needs and takes pride in finding staff who can provide consistency and care for our young people.

Hi, my name is Sharon Fudge and I’m a Recruitment Partner at Esland. I’ve worked for the organisation for just over three years.

My journey so far

I became a Recruitment Partner at Esland in 2022. Having already worked with some of the team, I was excited to apply when the role became available. I began by recruiting across the Central area, covering the East Midlands, Lincolnshire, The Peaks, and South Yorkshire, where I built strong and lasting relationships with managers and regional managers.

Soon after, I was given the exciting challenge of leading recruitment for our Shropshire project, which involved opening six new homes. This involved filling over 80 vacancies, which was a demanding yet rewarding task.

What I love most about working at Esland is the shared commitment to our values and the way we come together as a team to enrich the lives of young people. It’s incredibly fulfilling to find candidates who share those same values and are equally passionate about making a lasting difference.

Finding people to make a difference

In my role, I place adverts, screen applicants for our vacancies, and arrange interviews. I really enjoy liaising with managers about candidates and explaining the role to applicants. This allows me to highlight the fantastic services we provide for young people, from access to education within a highly supportive environment, to therapeutic, child-centred care in our beautiful homes.

The best part of my role is meeting people who are truly passionate about changing children’s lives for the better and finding the right staff to provide consistency and a nurturing environment. I love being able to tell someone they have successfully secured a role, as it can genuinely make their day.

It’s also rewarding when staff you have recruited go on to apply for internal promotions as opportunities arise. Seeing talented people progress in their careers is a real highlight.

Kindness costs nothing

Esland was my first experience in children’s care, as I previously worked in complex care. Since joining, I’ve grown in confidence and developed a much greater understanding of things like Ofsted regulations. I’ve also completed several courses, and I’m proud to serve as a Mental Health First Aider across the organisation.

I try to embody all Esland’s values, but the one I connect with most is Kindness. It costs nothing, yet it can make the biggest difference. Being able to put a smile on someone's face who may be struggling brings me genuine happiness.