Ayesha Latif joined Esland as a Learning and Development Partner and is currently completing her Level 5 qualification. Passionate about professional growth and positive relationships, she supports teams across multiple regions to deliver high-quality care through confident, well-equipped training.

Hi, my name is Ayesha Latif, and I’m a Learning and Development Partner within our L&D team. I joined Esland because I believe strongly in the power of development, and since starting, I’ve been able to grow professionally while supporting others to do the same.

What is the most rewarding part of my role at Esland?

My journey so far

I joined Esland directly as a Learning and Development Partner, bringing with me a clear ambition to continue developing my knowledge and qualifications. Before joining, I made it known how important professional growth was to me. As soon as my probation period ended, I was enrolled onto my Level 5 qualification as a Learning and Development Consultant Business Partner, which I am now close to completing.

Alongside this, I’ve attended external courses to strengthen the quality and accreditation behind the training we deliver. Esland’s willingness to invest in me has reinforced that I made the right decision to join. When you feel supported in your own growth, it naturally motivates you to invest even more into others.

I also represent and support the Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging group, helping to put forward ideas and listening to teams about how we can improve and strengthen our approach across the organisation.

Purpose, people and progression

What has kept me here is the people. I have a supportive manager and a team that share the same values and ethos. Feeling listened to and supported in your ambitions makes a real difference.

My role involves delivering induction training for new starters and specialist training across homes in the Shropshire and Staffordshire regions, as well as our assessment homes. Whether face to face or remote, the aim is the same, building confident, capable teams who feel equipped to support young people safely and effectively.

One of the most rewarding parts of the role is meeting new staff and hearing about their experiences with the young people they support. Being able to guide them through challenges, suggest strategies and provide reassurance is something I take real pride in. When teams feel confident, young people benefit.

Growth, confidence and values

Since joining, I’ve developed strong relationships with the homes I support. That trust is essential. It means staff feel comfortable asking for advice or further training, and I can respond quickly when support is needed.

I’ve also grown in confidence. Delivering training requires resilience, clarity and honesty. You won’t always have every answer immediately, but having the confidence to follow up and ensure staff receive accurate guidance is key. Strong communication, particularly when safeguarding concerns arise during training, is vital.

The values I connect with most are Kind, Bold and Fun. Kindness shapes how we communicate and support others. Being bold builds confidence in ourselves and in the young people we care for. And fun matters too. The work we do is serious, but positive energy and strong relationships help create a culture where people want to grow and stay.

A little more about me

Something people might be surprised to know is that I used to work as a supporting artist in television production while living in Leeds. It started as a hobby alongside my work as a carer and quickly became something I really enjoyed.

A standout moment for me at Esland was supporting a colleague through accreditation for our behaviour support programme and achieving accreditation together for our physical intervention training. It was a proud reminder of what collaboration and shared commitment can achieve.