The winners of the 2018 Social Worker of the Year Awards winners have been revealed following a presentation ceremony on Friday (30 November).
Awards were presented to individuals and teams of social workers across children’s and adults’ services, mental health and the charity sector in 17 categories, with each having a gold award winner for the practitioner or team whom the judges were most impressed by.
Zoe Williamson, a mental health social worker from Northumbria NHS Healthcare Foundation Trust/Northumberland County Council, was named overall social worker of the year, and a special outstanding contribution award was presented to Anthony Douglas, outgoing chief of Cafcass.
Social Work Without Borders, which provides support for asylum seekers and refugees from social worker volunteers, won the gold award in the championing social work values category, having withdrawn from the awards over outsourcing firm Capita’s joint sponsorship of the category. In response to its withdrawal, the organisers announced an ‘ethics audit‘ of the awards, including sponsorship, though Capita later withdraw its sponsorship.
Following Friday’s ceremony, Social Work Without Borders declared that it was “as surprised as anyone” to learn it had won the gold award after withdrawing.
The ceremony was hosted by BBC News reporter and care leaver Ashley John-Baptiste.
The gold award winners were:
| Children’s Social Worker of the Year | Chris Dyas, NSPCC |
| Adult Social Worker of the Year | Jennifer Staude, Westminster City Council / Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust |
| Newly Qualified Children’s Social Worker of the Year | Jessica Raper, East Riding of Yorkshire Council |
| Newly Qualified Adult Social Worker of the Year | Rebecca Payne, Gloucestershire County Council |
| Practice Educator of the Year | Karen Maude, Bradford College |
| Student Social Worker of the Year | Sian Miljkovic, University of Bedfordshire |
| Making a Difference | Wendy Ashton, Eden Valley Hospice |
| Championing Social Work Values | Social Workers Without Borders |
| Mental Health Social Worker of the Year | Zoe Williamson, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust / Northumberland County Council |
| Team of the Year, Children’s Services | Case Management Team, North Lincolnshire Council |
| Team of the Year, Adult Services | Integrated Community Services Team, Shropshire Council |
| Team Leader of the Year, Children’s Services | Jenny Slee, North Somerset Council / Adoption West |
| Team Leader of the Year, Adult Services | Jane Haywood, Derby City Council |
| Creative & Innovative Social Work Practice | People From Abroad Team. Norfolk County Council |
| Best Social Work Employer of the Year | Essex County Council |
| Lifetime Achievement Award | Peter Smith, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council |
| Outstanding Contribution to Social Work | Anthony Douglas CBE |
| Overall Social Worker of the Year | Zoe Williamson, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust / Northumberland County Council |
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No winners from Scotland.
Was this an English only event?
Yes it was England only. I think the Scottish Association of Social Workers continues with its awards but not sure about the arrangements for 2019.
Cheers
Mithran
Yes that’s right. Contact the Scottish Association (SASW) via the British Association of Social Work website for more information.