Three weeks left to enter the Social Worker of the Year Awards

Social workers and social work teams are encouraged to put themselves forward for the annual celebration of good practice in the profession

By Rachel Carter on August 18, 2014 in Workforce, Your Say

Patricia Fifield (centre) receiving the Overall Social Worker of the Year and Adult Social Worker of the Year awards from awards founder Beverley Williams and James Rook, managing director of headline sponsor Sanctuary Social Care. Photo: Image Source/Matt Grayson

There are just three weeks left for social workers and social work teams to submit entries for the 2014 Social Worker of the Year Awards.

The awards are open to social work practitioners throughout England and the closing date for entries is 5pm on Friday 5 September.

Top Tips from the Judges

Use these tips from the judging panel to make your entry form stand out

Start off with a short introduction to the nominee and their line of work
Bring out the personality of the nominee
Show what makes you/your team stand out with evidence of creativity and innovation
Include two or three examples of excellent best practice
Explain the unique contribution the nominee has made to service users, colleagues and the profession as a whole
In management categories, give examples of the nominee’s approach to supervision and mentoring of newly-qualified staff
Write concisely and accessibly and be clear and analytical

The event is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the achievements of individual social workers, teams and organisations and was founded by independent social worker, Beverley Williams, in 2006.

Speaking ahead of the awards, James Rook, managing director of Sanctuary Social Care, the awards’ headline sponsor, said: “With only three weeks left until nominations close, we are urging social workers and social work teams to take the time to enter.

“The awards are the perfect way to celebrate the success of practitioners and this year’s ceremony promises to be bigger and better than ever before.”

The awards feature 17 different categories across both children’s and adults services and this year’s event includes three new categories: Mental Health Social Worker, Principal Social Worker and Student Social Worker of the Year. To enter download an entry form from the Social Work Awards website.

The judging panel will include chief social workers, Lyn Romeo and Isabelle Trowler, the chief executive of the College of Social Work, Annie Hudson, and BASW England manager, Maris Stratulis.

The event is also supported by the College of Social Work, BASW, Christies Care and Core Assets, as well as media sponsor Community Care and awards’ founder Beverley Williams.

The winners will be announced on 28 November at an awards ceremony at the Lancaster London Hotel.

social work awards