Social Work Awards welcomes two new Trustees
The charity which runs the Social Worker of the Year Awards has announced the appointment of two new trustees as it looks to take forward its valuable work in recognising the outstanding contribution of social workers and social work in England.
The first appointment is Brian Walsh OBE, former Executive Director of People at Coventry City Council, who brings a wealth of experience from a social work career spanning over 30 years.
During his career, Brian worked in a variety of social work roles in local authorities, primarily across the East Midlands. He has also been a Director at Scope, the national charity for people with cerebral palsy, and spent several years as a Principal Lecturer of Health and Social Care at Nottingham Trent University. Brian is currently Chair of Camphill Village Trust, a national charity for people with learning disabilities, and a trustee at Quad, an independent cinema in Derby.
Commenting on his appointment, Brian said: “I feel very honoured to be formally associated with the Social Work Awards charity, which celebrates the profession that I feel passionate and positive about. I am looking forward to using my past experience as a Director of Social Care, and personal experience as a user of health services, to raise awareness more widely of the role that social work contributes to our society.”
The Social Work Awards has also confirmed the appointment of Jessica Beach to the Board of Trustees. Throughout a 14-year social work career, Jess has worked in community adult social work and specialist safeguarding roles both within Local Authority and NHS settings. She has also held a number of management and strategic roles, with her most current position being as a Principal Social Worker for Adult Social Care.
Speaking about joining the Board, Jessica said: “The Social Worker of the Year Awards is a special and uplifting event that truly celebrates the profession across all sectors. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute towards the future success of the charity and I am fiercely passionate about ensuring social work is recognised as representing those in society that often get little to no opportunity to be heard.”
Brian and Jessica will join existing trustees Peter Hay CBE (Chair), James Rook (Managing Director, Sanctuary Social Care), Joanna Nicolas (Child Protection Consultant and Author), Ana Popovici (Director of Children’s Services, London Borough of Hillingdon) and Rob Mitchell (Principal Social Worker, Bradford Council). Bev Williams MBE, founder of the Awards, takes up a new position as Founding Trustee.
Peter Hay CBE, Chair of the Social Work Awards Board, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Brian and Jessica to the Board of Trustees. Their passion for the Social Worker of the Year Awards is clear to see, and they have already shown great commitment to helping us recognise and celebrate outstanding social work. Both Brian and Jess are excellent role models within the profession, and I have no doubt that they will play a key part in the ongoing development of the charity.
“We are currently looking to appoint a trustee with lived experience of social work, who can use their valuable insight to bring an added dimension to our work and help us to shape the charity going forwards. We would encourage anyone interested in the position to contact us.”
The Social Worker of the Year Awards 2019 will take place on Friday 29th November in London. Entries are still being accepted until midnight on Friday 19th July.