Well done, Tyneside social workers!

"I was blessed - and so was the family - with the largest and most dedicated team of professionals one could ever hope to find. In and out of court I had superb and unstinting assistance not just from all the experts ... and from a dedicated and devoted team of social workers... No judge, no family involved in the court process, could have wished for more. Tyneside should be proud that it can call upon such a skilled, experienced, dedicated and caring group of professionals."

The judge in question is none other than Mr Justice Munby, a name that social workers in the field of child protection cannot help but notice. It was he who, among other things:

• criticised as "evil and exploitative" a case involving sale of babies for adoption, see Local Authority v M & Anor [2003] EWHC 219 (Fam) (07 March 2003).

• said he was ashamed of the family justice system for failing separated fathers, see F v M [2004] EWHC 727 (Fam) (01 April 2004).

• restored baby K to his mother in the 'Nottingham baby case', see G, R (On the application of) v Nottingham City Council [2008] EWHC 152 (Admin) (01 February 2008).

His profile has ensured he is not without his detractors, including among the social work profession. Reading his praise of the Durham social workers, however, it is quite clear that here is someone who has much regard for much of our profession much of the time.

And - well done, Tyneside social workers!

Allan Norman is Principal Social Worker & Solicitor at Celtic Knot (www.celticknot.org.uk), an independent law firm and social work practice.