Senedd building, Cardiff, where the awards were held

The efforts of social workers in Wales have been recognised in a national awards ceremony.

Introducing the 2011 BASW Cymru Social Work Awards, Mark Drakeford, Labour Welsh Assembly member, said the event helped to recognise unsung social workers: "It is important to remember that there are social workers across Wales whose daily work goes unremarked and unrewarded."

Two social workers with a combined seven decades of experience in practice were among the big winners. Patricia Griffiths was presented with the Practice Teacher Award for her work in hospital and community-based practice over a 35-year career, while Karen Phillips picked up the Spirit of Social Work Award for her 37 years supporting disabled adults.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to a youth justice social worker and former BASW Cymru chair, Nick Lovell, who has also worked hard to highlight concerns over the support on offer to overseas trained social workers.

Keith Drury, BASW Cymru chair, said: "Social workers have for so long been misrepresented by the media, who only ever seem interested in isolated examples of bad practice. The people honoured this evening are representative of the enormous amount of excellent work that is carried out every day."

Photo by Rex Features

Read the complete post at http://www.communitycare.co.uk/blogs/social-work-blog/2011/10/recognising-unsung-social-work.html