‘She brings warmth, hope, and humanity to a role that can be emotionally demanding’

Our My Brilliant Colleague series invites you to celebrate anyone who has inspired you in your career. It is part of Community Care’s ongoing Choose Social Work campaign, which aims to champion the brilliant work social workers do every day and inspire the next generation of practitioners.

In this entry, social work assistant Rita Gibson celebrates Danielle Holmes, a newly qualified practitioner in her team whom she describes as an inspiration to families and colleagues.

Danielle’s natural kindness and compassion shine through in every interaction she has with the families she supports.

Her genuine care is not only felt by the people she works with; it also drives real and meaningful change in their lives. What truly sets her apart is her ability to think quickly and act decisively in challenging situations.

She remains calm under pressure and consistently finds solutions that are both creative and grounded in empathy.

Her commitment to improving outcomes for children and families is unwavering, and her dedication inspires those around her every day.

Danielle is not just a skilled professional; she also brings warmth, hope and humanity to a role that can be emotionally demanding. She leads with integrity, listens without judgment and truly makes a difference.

For these reasons, I believe Danielle is a true inspiration and deserving of recognition.

How to nominate a colleague

You can nominate anyone who has inspired you in your career – whether current or former colleagues, managers, students, lecturers, mentors or prominent past or present sector figures whom you have admired from afar.

Nominate your colleague or social work inspiration by filling in our nominations form with a letter or a few paragraphs (100-250 words) explaining how and why the person has inspired you.

*Despite the need to provide your name and role, you or the nominee can be anonymous in the published entry.*

If you have any questions, email our community journalist, Anastasia Koutsounia, at anastasia.koutsounia@markallengroup.com.