About Us
History of the awards
The Social Worker of the Year Awards were established in 2006 by independent social work practitioner Beverley Williams with the aim of recognising and celebrating the challenging work of qualified social workers and highlighting the good work they do.
The Social Work Awards organisation
In 2011 Beverley Williams, Sanctuary Personnel, BASW and Community Care formed The Social Work Awards organisation. This is registered charity (No. 1144458) which will manage the Social Worker of the Year Awards and steer their development.
The aims are to:
- Give recognition to the challenging work of qualified social workers
- Promote best practice in the profession and celebrate success
- Improve understanding of the range of work which social workers undertake
- Celebrate and promote diversity and equal opportunities in social care.
Beverley Williams, Founder
Beverley worked in the social housing sector for 23 years and changed careers aged 40 when she became a foster carer and first came in touch with social workers. A mother of three, she qualified with a Diploma in Social Work in 2004. She works as an independent social worker and from 2006 until 2010 organised the Social Worker of the Year Awards in her spare time with a team of volunteer helpers.
Sanctuary Personnel
Sanctuary Personnel is committed to helping support the development of the awards over the next three years. It believes they are a prime way of showcasing the best work in the industry and improving the national reputation of social workers. Sanctuary is the country’s largest independent provider of qualified social workers. See www.sanctuarypersonnel.com
Community Care
Community Care is the leading website for the whole of the social care sector. It is committed to bringing news, policy information, opinion and best practice to social workers and support them in their work online as well as at conferences and events. Community Care is supporting the Social Worker of the Year Awards as part of that commitment to champion the best of social work. See www.communitycare.co.uk
BASW
As the professional association for Social Workers across the UK, we are thrilled to be taking an active role in recognising and rewarding excellence and innovation within our profession. The Social Work Awards are a vital ingredient in the drive to raise the status, standing and appeal of the profession of social work. See www.basw.co.uk