And the winners are... BASW Cymru's Social Work Awards

Social workers from across Wales, politicians and guests gathered to honour the best of social work at the BASW Cymru Social Work Awards.

Held at the Pierhead Building in Cardiff Bay, the award ceremony is now in its sixth year and attracted record numbers of nominations.

Practitioners were recognised in four categories – the spirit of social work, innovation in social work, team of the year and lifetime achievement.

Opening the ceremony, CathTaffurelli, Chair of the BASW Cymru Committee, said the awards were a celebration of the “excellence, dedication, commitment and hard work of social workers throughout Wales”.

She added: “The awards value and recognise what social workers can bring to society using their skills and expertise and willingness to work with other professionals and organisations to help individuals and communities to effect real and lasting positive change.

“The awards are also about recognising that these are unique qualities that social workers bring to the table to achieve this end.”

Award winners

Spirit of social work

Overall winner: Joanna Thomas – Education & Children, Carmarthenshire

Certificate winners: Eleanor Powell, TaNS Team, Powys; Karen Powell, Education and Children, Carmarthenshire; Denise Rawlings, Longer Term Care, Vale of Glamorgan; Diana Wallace, Independent Living team, Monmouthshire; Lucy Treby, Barnardos

Innovation in social work

Winner: Gwent Missing Children’s Team

Team of the year

Overall winners: Pembrokeshire Child Care Assessment team; Newport’s Community Mental Health Team

Certificate winners: Enhanced CIN, Merthyr Tydfil; MAPS, Newport; Children in Need, Pembrokeshire; Corporate Parenting, Pembrokeshire; Flying Start, Pembrokeshire; Integrated Family Support, Pembrokeshire; Service Quality Unit, Swansea; Independent Living, Torfaen

Lifetime achievement award

Overall winner: Karen Panter, Children in Need, Pembrokeshire

Certificate winners: Elizabeth Hopkins, Newport Child Protection & Family Support; Pat Duke, Barnardos