Melanie Fletcher is the Managing Director of Residential at Esland and has spent several years building her career in a range of senior roles. She first managed homes across the South and Midlands before moving into the Operations Director role, where she achieved consistent good and outstanding Ofsted results. Now, as Managing Director of Residential, Melanie leverages that experience to lead our portfolio of homes and is passionate about creating an environment where both staff and young people can reach their full potential.

Hi, my name is Melanie Fletcher and I’m the Managing Director of Residential at Esland. I’ve worked for the organisation in various roles since 2020.

My journey so far

My journey with Esland has really had two parts. I first joined Esland as a Regional Manager and, during that time, saw significant potential in both the organisation and its future direction. After gaining further experience elsewhere within the sector, I was later approached by the Operations Director, who I had previously worked with, about returning to the business.

He asked whether I would be interested in rejoining Esland as a Regional Manager to support the organisation through its next stage of growth and development. Having already seen the company’s ambition and commitment firsthand, I was excited to return and take on the role once again.

I jumped at the chance and returned to oversee homes across the South and Midlands. We went on to acquire Oracle Care and significantly expanded the portfolio and opened several new homes.

I later became Operations Director, leading the South and Central regions to good and outstanding Ofsted ratings. Most recently, I’ve stepped into the role of Managing Director of Residential, which has been an exciting new chapter.

A supportive team

As Esland has grown, we’ve continued to maintain a real family feel. For me, it’s like a second home where I get to work alongside some of the most amazing people. The job is demanding, but it never feels like I’m facing challenges alone. There’s always someone ready to offer help and support.

I think the reason I’ve grown so much in my career here is because I’ve been encouraged every step of the way. My ideas have always been listened to, and it’s clear that people genuinely want to see you succeed.

Expect the unexpected

I might start the day with a plan neatly laid out on one of my infamous coloured post-it notes, but things inevitably change. I wear many hats, so within an hour I can go from advising on safeguarding to chasing up a leaky roof to updating a policy. The only predictable part of the role is its unpredictability.

That variety is what I love most, though. It keeps me constantly learning and thinking, which has always been important to me. Knowing that we are making a real difference to young people, many of whom have faced things nobody should ever have to, makes everything worthwhile.

Over the years, I’ve definitely grown in confidence. Making difficult decisions and thinking on my feet has become second nature with practice. Seeing the positive outcomes for our young people, along with the results from Ofsted, reassures me that we must be getting something right.