NIASW Celebrates a Lifetime of Achievement

At today’s Social Work Awards, hosted in the Armagh City Hotel, the Northern Ireland Association of Social Workers (NIASW) Chair, Marcella Leonard, awarded NIASW’s lifetime achievement award to Mrs Jean O’Neill.

Speaking following the presentation Ms Leonard said: “Jean is thoroughly deserving of the lifetime achievement award. In her role with the Probation Board for Northern Ireland, she has undertaken extremely valuable work to improve social work services for female offenders. Under Jean’s leadership the Inspire Women’s Project was established which delivers a range of services that directly contribute to reducing women’s offending”.

Also shortlisted for the NIASW lifetime achievement award were Mrs Veronica McKee and Miss Rosalynd Anderson both of whom have spent their careers working to support young people. Mrs McKee has four decades of experience as a social worker and Miss Anderson has worked in the profession for half a century.

Ms Leonard concluded by saying: “The quality of nominees for this year’s lifetime achievement award is outstanding. This is testament to the expertise and dedication of the social workers who help and support individuals and families throughout Northern Ireland every day. I extend my warmest congratulations to Jean on winning the lifetime achievement award and thank Rosalynd and Veronica for their many years of service.”