Finalists announced for Social Worker of the Year Awards
The wait is over for social workers across the country as the final shortlist for this year’s Social Worker of the Year Awards has been revealed.
The shortlist, which features over 90 outstanding practitioners, teams and organisations in 17 categories, was chosen by independent judging panels of young care leavers, social workers, industry leaders and people with lived experience of social work.
Alongside categories highlighting exceptional practice in children’s and adult services, mental health, social work education, and social justice, two new awards have been introduced in this year’s event programme – Supporting Children in Education and Digital Transformation in Social Work.
The winners for each of the 17 categories will be revealed during a special awards ceremony in London on Friday 4th November. A ‘winner of winners’ will also be crowned on the night, an accolade chosen exclusively by the Social Work Awards Board of Trustees.
Peter Hay CBE, Chair of the Social Work Awards, said: “We are delighted with the fantastic entries received this year.
“As a charity, our aim is to shine a light on the inspirational achievements of an often-overlooked profession. Thank you to all the people who took the time out of their day to nominate a friend, colleague, or team for an award this year. And, to all our finalists, congratulations!
“Being nominated for a national award, whilst supporting others during very challenging times, is a remarkable achievement of which you should be very proud.”
The Social Worker of the Year Awards 2022 is supported by headline sponsor Sanctuary Personnel, and Corporate Partner, BASW, Hampshire County Council Adults’ Health and Care, Wandsworth London Borough Council, Devon County Council, Children’s Social Work Matters, Suffolk County Council, UNISON, Lambeth London Borough Council, S12 Solutions, Torbay Council, Coventry City Council, Essex County Council, Staffordshire University, and West Midlands ADASS.
The local authorities of Gloucestershire, Waltham Forest, Bradford City, Dorset, Stockton-on-Tees, Hammersmith and Fulham, Wiltshire, West Sussex, Central Bedfordshire, Brighton and Hove and Herefordshire support the awards this year as ‘Thank You’ sponsors.
The full shortlist for the Social Worker of the Year Awards 2022 is as follows:
Student Social Worker of the Year 2022 – Supported by Torbay Council
• Solomon Tugbiyele – Anglia Ruskin University
• Momoh Etunu Suleman – University of Bradford
• Denford Duri – University of Hull
• Natasha Round – The Open University / Devon County Council
• Stephanie Burns – University of Sunderland
• Shannon Briddon – Nottingham Trent University
University of the Year 2022 – Supported by Coventry City Council
• University of Chester
• Oxford Brookes University
• Southampton Solent University
Newly Qualified Adult Social Worker of the Year 2022 – Supported by Devon County Council
• Helen Southgate – Suffolk County Council
• Anna Boddy – City of York Council
• Sehrish Zeb – Essex County Council
• Cheryl Dixon – Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
• Naomi Thompson – Worcestershire County Council
• Tracy Bell – Lancashire County Council
Newly Qualified Children’s Social Worker of the Year 2022 – Supported by Children’s Social Work Matters (CSWM)
• Amy White – Essex County Council
• Mi-Gyung Kim – Achieving for Children
• Skerntian Keri – Wiltshire Council
• Maisie Pearce-Connor – London Borough of Hounslow
• Joe Harrison – Essex County Council
• Ivenna Finn – Richmond and Wandsworth Councils
• Dawn Bedwell – Essex County Council
Practice Educator of the Year 2022 – Supported by BASW
• Carolyn Smith – Wakefield Council
• Roz Ryder – Shropshire Council
• Sue Powell – Essex County Council
• Jackie Flynn – Essex County Council
• Minette Moorhouse – Northumberland County Council
• Laura Webb – Bedford Borough Council
Team of the Year, Adult Services 2022 (including MDTs) – Supported by UNISON
• The Team around Kasibba* – Camden Integrated Learning Disability Service – London Borough of Camden and Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust
• Enhanced Support Team – Derbyshire County Council
• Day Unit Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) – Mary Stevens Hospice
• Central Adult Safeguarding Team – Suffolk County Council
• Independent Futures Team – Hampshire County Council
• Social Work Student Connect Team
Team of the Year, Children’s Services 2022 (including MDTs) – Supported by London Borough of Lambeth
• Families First Fostering
• 24/7 In The Home Programme Team – Advanced CCA
• Make a Change Team (MAC) – Suffolk County Council
• Reunification Team – Coventry City Council
• Kingston and Richmond Leaving Care / UASC Team – Achieving for Children
• Social Work Student Connect Team
Supportive Social Work Employer Award 2022 – Supported by Sanctuary Personnel
• Children’s Social Care, Durham County Council
• Children and Young People Service, Wakefield Council
• Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
• Children’s Services, Torbay Council
Team Leader of the Year, Adult Services 2022 – Supported by Suffolk County Council
• Lucy Hunt – Devon County Council
• Tom Woodd – Devon County Council and Devon Partnership NHS Trust
• Ian Hall – Northumberland County Council
• Karen Aspinall – Essex County Council
• Louise White – Somerset County Council
• Janet Hardy – Somerset County Council
Team Leader of the Year, Children’s Services 2022 – Supported by Suffolk County Council
• Cheryl Grazette – Hertfordshire County Council
• Ayshea Dalby – Leicestershire County Council
• Helen Harding – London Borough of Havering
• Heather Johns – Manchester City Council
• Yvette Lima – Achieving for Children
• Michelle Morris – Aspris Fostering Services
Digital Transformation in Social Work Award 2022 – Supported by West Midlands ADASS
• Hull City Council
• Festival of Learning, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
• Adult Learning Disabilities and Innovation Team, Norfolk County Council
• Essex TEC Partnership Essex County Council, Millbrook Healthcare and Provide CIC
• Social Work Team, Mary Stevens Hospice
• Social Work Student Connect Team
Supporting Children in Education Award 2022 – Supported by Staffordshire University
• Charlotte Elliot – Devon County Council
• Samantha Gilham – London Borough of Camden
• Lauren Main – Gloucestershire County Council
Social Justice Advocate Award 2022 – Supported by BASW
• Kirstie Baughan – Central Bedfordshire Council
• Ivor Wepke – Birmingham Youth Offending Service
• Andrea White – Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
• Millie Kerr – Brighton and Hove City Council
• Social Work Student Connect Team
Mental Health Social Worker of the Year 2022 – S12 Solutions
• Tara Mitchell – Leeds and York NHS Partnership Foundation trust
• Lynn Counter – Cornwall Council
• Sarah Asprey – Devon County Council
• Elvis Jeramiah – Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust
• Charlotte McFathing – Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
Adult Social Worker of the Year 2022 – Supported by Hampshire County Council
• Bhavna Maher – Leicester City Council
• Clare Fisk – Suffolk County Council
• Jennifer Paddock – Gloucestershire County Council
• Karen Turner – Sunderland City Council
• Sally Adams – Salford Care Organisation, Northern Care Alliance NHS Group
• Deborah Solomon – Derbyshire County Council
Children’s Social Worker of the Year 2022 – Supported by London Borough of Wandsworth Council
• Annmarie Nero – Achieving for Children
• Nathan Head – Durham County Council
• Bobbie Dean – Norfolk County Council
• Kathryn Vayro – Derby City Council
Lifetime Achievement Award 2022 – Supported by Essex County Council
• Sarah Lowe
• Tony Wright – Forward Assist
• Owen Garrod – Norfolk County Council
• Elizabeth Parry – Sunderland City Council
• Val Swan – Sunderland City Council
• Suzanne Brown – NAViGO