Winners of the Social Work Awards 2011

20 December 2011

Awards highlight outstanding work of unsung profession 

Social workers from across the country were honoured at the Social Worker of the Year Awards which were held at the House of Lords on Friday 16th December 2011.

The highest accolade and most coveted award of Overall Social Worker of the Year 2011, sponsored by Sanctuary Personnel, went to Celia Parker, a social worker from the London Borough of Southwark who was described as a ‘unique and inspiring leader’ . She also won the Team Leader of the Year (Children’s Services) Award, sponsored by G4S, one of nine individual categories.

Celia Parker has worked in the profession for over 30 years and is the Team Manager of a Looked after Children’s Team in Southwark. On receiving the Social Worker of the Year Award she said: “I am thrilled to have received this award; I believe that it’s not just an award for me, but it is recognition of the work that social workers do to improve the lives of people who have not had the best chances or the best luck in life.”

James Rook, managing director of headline sponsors and awards organisers Sanctuary Personnel, presented the award to Celia and said: “Celia clearly inspires team members to reach for extremely high standards by earning their respect and setting a tone of absolute professionalism. Celia is a totally committed social worker who shows tremendous passion and care for the looked after children in her case load and works tirelessly to find the best outcome for them.”

Baroness Wilkins, who hosted an evening celebration for all of the winners following the awards presentation added: “Thank goodness for these awards to highlight this unsung profession. Social workers are often damned if they do or damned if they don’t – so a big well done to everyone.”

Category Winners...  

• Celia Parker from Southwark Council won the Team Leader of the Year (Children’s Services) Award sponsored by G4S as well as the title of Overall Social Worker of the Year, sponsored by Sanctuary Personnel
• Caroline Curtis, who works for Southwark Children’s Services, won the  Children's Social Worker of the Year Award, sponsored by NSPCC  
• Kelly Hicks, an independent social worker from Doncaster, won the Adult Social Worker of the Year Award
• The Adoption Team at Southend-on-Sea Borough Council won the Team of the Year (Children’s Services) Award
• TOPAZ (Team Offering People Advice and Support) from the London Borough of Lambeth won the Team of the Year (Adult Services) Award
• Anita Kapur, London Borough of Lambeth, won the Team Leader of the Year (Adult Services)
• Janet Foulds, Derby City Council, won the Overall Leader of Innovative Practice Award
• Ellie Hal-Fead, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, won the Practice Teacher of the Year Award
• Ian Baker, Nottinghamshire County Council, won the Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by BASW

The ceremony was attended by over 170 social workers and representatives from the profession. It included a debate about the social work profession with the high profile judging panel including Penny Thompson (GSCC), Cynthia Bower (CQC) and Andrew Williamson (NHS Cornwall & Isles of Scilly) before an evening reception held in one of the House of Lords’ most prestigious banqueting rooms overlooking the River Thames.

James Rook added: “The number of entrants for each category was high and the quality of their work is fantastic. It just goes to show how much outstanding social work goes on, largely unrecognised, all over the country. It is wonderful to be able to give these hard working professionals the thanks and recognition that they deserve!”

The Social Worker of the Year Awards 2011 is a registered charity which aims to improve the reputation and understanding of the social work profession.