BASW England Celebrates Social Worker of the Year Awards

The awards aim to share stories of outstanding social work across England, highlighting creative practice and celebrating individual and collective achievements in the profession.

This year’s ceremony was once again hosted by broadcast journalist and TV presenter, Ashley John-Baptiste. There were 18 awards presented during the evening, recognising exceptional contributions in areas of social work such as children's and adults services, mental health, social justice, practice education and research.

As well as being the headline sponsor, BASW England also sponsored the Overall Social Worker of the Year category and the Lifetime Achievement Award. The winners in each category were as follows:

• Lifetime Achievement Award - Susan Banyard (Gold), Jennifer Gander (Silver)
• Overall Social Worker of the Year - People From Abroad Team - Norfolk County Council
• Children's Social Worker of the Year - Cherry F Ricketts (Gold), Hema Johal – Cafcass (Silver)
• Adult Social Worker of the Year - Chloe Lambert (Gold), Parminder Sangha (Silver)
• Newly Qualified Children's Social Worker of the Year - Holly Shreeves (Gold), Helen Podesta (Silver)
• Newly Qualified Adult Social Worker of the Year - Elizabeth Badu (Gold), Aaron Evans (Silver)
• Team of the Year in Children's Services - People From Abroad Team (Gold), The Children’s Mental and Emotional Health Team (Silver)
• Team of the Year in Adult Services - Reconnect (Gold), St Richard’s Hospice Specialist Palliative Care Social Work Team (Silver)
• Team Leader of the Year in Children's Services - Clare Luxton (Gold), Danielle Jeenah (Silver)
• Team Leader of the Year in Adult Services - Sue Bunker (Gold), Joe Hockaday (Silver), Carol Monahan (Silver)
• Mental Health Social Worker of the Year - Frances Ashton (Gold), Georgie Dredge (Silver)
• Approved Mental Health Practitioner of the Year - Dr Matt Simpson (Gold), Kenton Fairweather (Silver)
• Social Justice Advocate Award - Anti-Racist Movement (Gold), Dawn Henderson (Silver)
• Social Work Student of the Year - Tienga Ngale (Gold), Hannah Louise Barnes (Silver)
• Practice Educator of the Year - Zainab Sulaiman (Gold), Maxine Burt (Silver)
• Technology Enabled Lives & Innovation in Practice Award - Tact Connect (Gold), Technology Enhanced Lives Service (Silver)
• Practitioner Led Research Award - Anna Bouch (Gold), Hannah Kingsford (Silver)
• Supportive Social Work Employer Award - Wandsworth Council (Gold), Hartlepool Borough Council (Silver)
• University Social Work Lecturer of the Year - David Marsland (Gold), Nigel Kelleher (Silver)

Well done to BASW members Hannah Louise Barnes, Scott Richardson, Tienga Ngale, Aaron Evans, Chloe Ann Turner, Klaudia Skubera, Wendy Jill Hardman, Rebekah Button, Andrew Jamieson, Nicole Jones, Hannah Rogerson, Ola Tony-Obot, Edward Garwe, Natasha Winters, Dawn Henderson, Nick Perry, Katy Cleece and Hannah Kingsford who were all nominated.

Speaking after the awards, BASW England National Director, Maris Stratulis said:

“BASW England congratulates all of this year’s winners and finalists and extends our gratitude to all social workers across the profession for your incredible hard work, passion and dedication.

“From students and newly qualified, to educators, researchers, generic and specialist practitioners, professional leaders and experienced social workers engaged in direct practice, thank you for your invaluable contributions and for embodying social work values and ethics in all that you do, everyday.

“We know that the social work profession faces many challenges with increasing pressures felt by the diverse and unique communities we support. During these difficult times, the role of social work is ever more critical, from upholding rights and challenging injustices, to advocating for fairness and promoting wellbeing.

“That’s why it’s important that through these awards we highlight your individual and collective achievements, recognise the exceptional services you deliver for children, families and adults, celebrate the diversity and intersectionality of our profession, and shine a well-deserved spotlight on exceptional social work practice happening across the country.”

More information about the awards can be found here.