THE JUDGES
RECOGNISE INSPIRING SOCIAL WORK
#SWA23
Judging for the 2023 Social Worker of the Year Awards took place in August, when judges attended virtual and in-person sessions to decide this year’s finalists and winners.
The independent judging panel is made up of:
- Leading industry professionals; invited to join the panel based upon their expertise within the social work profession
- Young people and adults who have received support from social workers.
- Peers and colleagues (we invite a select number of winners from the previous year to join our judging panel)
All judges kindly give up their time on a voluntary basis.
Thank you to our judging panel
| Andrew Reece | Team of the Year, Adult Services Winner 2022 and Overall Social Worker of the Year 2022 |
| Andrew | Family Justice Young People’s Board, Cafcass |
| Annmarie Nero | Children’s Social Worker of the Year Winner 2022 |
| Asmaat Khan | ASYE Social Worker, Essex County Council |
| Bethany Erikson Rodrigues | Independent Senior Social Worker |
| Bev Williams MBE | Founding Patron of the Social Worker of the Year Awards |
| Bhavna Maher | Adult Social Worker of the Year Winner 2022 |
| Chris Ring | Supportive Social Work Employer Award Winner 2022 |
| Deb Solomon | Social Worker, Derbyshire County Council |
| Diana Harris | Chair, BASW Coventry and Warwickshire Branch |
| Dr Krutika Pau | Deputy CEO/Director of Children’s Services, Starlight Children’s Foundation |
| Dr Mark Brookes MBE | Advocacy Lead, Dimensions |
| Eddie Dube | Advanced Practitioner (Learning Disabilities) |
| Fran Leddra-Chapman | Former Chief Social Worker for Adults at the Department of Health and Social Care |
| Helen Southgate | Newly Qualified Adult Social Worker of the Year Winner 2022 |
| Ian Vinall | Independent safeguarding consultant and reviewer |
| Jak Savage | Independent Employer and Social Care Consultant |
| Jason Brandon | Mental Health Social Work Lead, Department of Health and Social Care |
| Juliana Dinnall | Signs of Safety – Consultant Social Worker, London Borough of Bexley |
| Kate Concannon | Principal Social Worker for Adult Social Care, Southampton City Council |
| Kirstie Baughan | Social Justice Advocate Award Winner 2022 and Overall Social Worker of the Year 2022 |
| Laura | Family Justice Young People’s Board, Cafcass |
| Louise Jones | Head of Practice & Principal Social Worker, Wandsworth Council |
| Louise White | Service & Operations Manager – Adults & Health Adult Safeguarding, Somerset Council |
| Lucy Fitzpatrick | Social Worker, Derbyshire County Council |
| Maris Stratulis | National Director, BASW England |
| Melanie Noel | Adult Social Worker of the Year Winner 2021 |
| Nadine Boyne | Founder of Social Work DISCovery |
| Nikki Rutter | Teaching Fellow, Durham University |
| Norah Khan | Mental Health Social Worker |
| Patriche Bentick | Senior Practitioner, Camden Council |
| Rachael Davies | Team of the Year, Children’s Services Winner 2022 |
| Ryan Cowley-Sharp | Associate Director Social Work |
| Sharon Gouda | Social Worker, Lambeth Adult Social Services |
| Skerntian Keri | Newly Qualified Children’s Social Worker of the Year Silver Winner 2022 |
| Tara Morgan | Independent Social Worker Practitioner |
| Val Gant | University of the Year Winner 2022 |
| Yvonne Frimpong | Social Worker |