Celebrating a Lifetime of Outstanding Social Work Service

At today’s Social Work Awards, hosted at the Galgorm Resort, Colin Reid, Chair of the Northern Ireland Association of Social Workers (NIASW), awarded NIASW’s lifetime achievement award to Liz McCurry, Principal Practitioner for Child Protection in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust.

Speaking following the presentation Mr Reid said: “Liz is an outstanding social worker whose commitment to delivering first class children’s social work services has been recognised at today’s awards ceremony. Throughout a career spanning four decades Liz has been driven by a desire to improve the lives of the children and families she has worked to support, ensuring their best interests are central to the delivery of child protection services.”

Speaking about receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award Ms McCurry said: “I am delighted and honoured to receive the award. I have loved every day of my social work career and have worked with many dedicated professional colleagues."

Also shortlisted for the NIASW lifetime achievement award were Imelda Fearon, a Senior Social Work Practitioner in the Young People’s Partnership, the Community Adolescence Service for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, and David Gillen, a Social Work Services Manager working in Children’s Services in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. Both Imelda and David have spent their careers tirelessly supporting vulnerable children and young people.

Mr Reid concluded by saying: “The standard of nominees for this year’s lifetime achievement award is outstanding. This speaks volumes about the quality and commitment of the social workers who help and support individuals and families throughout Northern Ireland every day. I extend my warmest congratulations to Liz on winning the lifetime achievement award and thank Imelda and David for their many years of service.”

ENDS

Note to Editors

• The Northern Ireland Association of Social Workers (NIASW) is part of the British Association Social Work (BASW), which is the largest professional body for social workers across the UK. The Association has 21,000 members employed in frontline, management, academic and research positions in all care settings.

• Led by the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB), the Social Work Awards are organised in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC), the Northern Ireland Association of Social Workers (NIASW), and the five Health and Social Care Trusts in partnership with social work organisations from criminal justice, education and the voluntary and independent sectors.

• NIASW Chair, Colin Reid, will be available for interviews.

Contact: Amanda Beattie, Country Administrator

Telephone: 028 9064 8873

Email: a.beattie@basw.co.uk