Social Worker of the Year 2011 shortlist revealed

From adoption services to hospice-based work, social workers with a range of experiences feature on the shortlist for the Social Worker of the Year 2011 Awards.

The finalists will find out the results at the awards ceremony on 16 December at the House of Lords which will be preceded by a ‘meet the judges’ event.

The judging panel featured a range of social work and social care experts including represenatives of the College of Social Work, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and the Children’s Workforce Deveopment Council as well as Professor Eileen Munro and Andrew Flanagan, chief executive of the NSPCC.

Flanagan said: “As one of the judges I have been extremely impressed by the number and quality of the entries which made the judging process challenging.”

The new look 2011 awards have been made possible through the sponsorship of Sanctuary Personnel , the NSPCC , BASW and G4S d with the support of Community Care and Beverley Williams, founder of the awards.

James Rook, managing director of Sanctuary Personnel, said: “These awards are about recognising the best work in the profession, raising awareness of the challenging and diverse work that goes on and improving the reputation of social workers everywhere. “

Children’s Social Worker of the Year

Amanda Gibbons, London Borough of Hillingdon

Anita Sangha, Oxfordshire County Council

Caroline Curtis,Southwark Children’s Services

Julie Osborn, Westminster Children Services

Adult Social Worker of the Year

Kelly Hicks,SMART Social Work Practice & Personalisation Plus Ltd

Neil Webster, Lambeth Borough Council

Rodger Melville, Cumbria County Council

Suzy Croft, St John’s Hospice

Vicky Burns, Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Practice Teacher of the Year

David Thomas, Bedfordshire University

Ellie Hal-faed, Southend-on-sea Borough Council

Sandra Leonard, Oxleas NHS Trust & London Borough of Bromley

Team of the Year – Children’s Services

Berkshire East & South Bucks Women’s Aid

PSS Social Work Practice Pilot

Rotherham County Council

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council Adoption Team

Team of the Year – Adult Services

Jewish Care

Nottinghamshire Council

Raphael Healthcare

Lambeth Borough Council

Team Leader of the Year – Children’s Services

Celia Parker, Southwark Council

Jacqui Westbury, Southampton City Council

Jane Grice, Rotherham Borough Council

Team Leader of the Year – Adult Services

Anita Kapur, London Borough of Lambeth

Overall Leader of Innovative Practice – Children’s Services

Janet Foulds, Derby City Council

Lifetime Achievement Award

Christina Field, Children’s Services, East Sussex County Council

Glynis Marsh, Capita Learning & Development, Southampton Strategic Services Partnership

Ian Baker, Nottinghamshire County Council

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