Social work excellence celebrated as national awards mark 20th anniversary
The Social Worker of the Year Awards marked their 20th anniversary with a special reception at the House of Commons on Thursday 22 October, celebrating the individuals and teams making an extraordinary difference to children, adults, families and communities across the country.
The milestone event brought together social workers, sector leaders, supporters and award winners to recognise excellence across 14 award categories, spanning frontline practice, leadership, education, research and social justice.
Among this year’s highest honours, Mahfuzul “Maf” Khan, from the London Borough of Newham, and the late Dave Fry, from Croydon Council, were jointly recognised as Overall Social Workers of the Year.
Dave, who also received the Lifetime Achievement Award, dedicated more than five decades to social work before retiring in January 2026. He died just weeks later.
Throughout his remarkable 51-year career, Dave championed the voices of children and young people, holding roles across residential care, youth justice, fostering, corporate parenting and children’s services leadership.
At Croydon Council, he helped transform services for children in care, including developing new children’s homes in partnership with care-experienced young people. One of these, Precious House, opened the day after his death.
His posthumous recognition pays tribute not only to his professional achievements but also to the kindness, compassion and commitment to listening to children that defined his career.
Joint Overall Social Worker of the Year Maf Khan also received the Practice Leadership and Management Award, Children’s Services, in recognition of his transformational leadership of children’s services in Newham, where he has helped strengthen services, improve workforce stability and embed relationship-based practice.
With more than 25 years’ experience, Maf has combined significant organisational change with a deeply personal approach to supporting children, families and colleagues. His contribution has helped Newham achieve an Outstanding Ofsted judgement, while his wider influence extends across London through his role chairing the London Safeguarding Procedures Editorial Board.
Other gold award winners included the Octopus Energy Social Work Team, which received the Team of the Year, Adult Services (including MDTs) award for its pioneering work supporting survivors of domestic and economic abuse.
The Integrated Adolescent Service at Lewisham Council was named Children’s Services Team of the Year for its innovative multi-agency approach to supporting young people at risk of exploitation, violence and other harms outside the home.
Individual winners included Jodie Gooday from Essex County Council, who was named Adult Social Worker of the Year, Thomas Edwards from Buckinghamshire Council/ Furze Down School, who was named Children’s Social Worker of the Year and Jennifer Benbow from West Sussex County Council who won the Practice Leadership and Management Award, Adult Services.
Thomas, said: “It’s surreal, really. Yesterday I was in practice dealing with some pretty heavy situations, and now I’m outside the Houses of Parliament next to the Thames with an award! Social workers don’t go into the profession for recognition. You do it because it’s the right thing to do; it’s your vocation. We’re asked to go into situations alone that police go into together. Having that recognition that you’re doing the right thing and doing a good thing really makes a difference.”
Jennifer, said: “It was lovely just to be nominated and to read all the personal testimonies people had written. That was the best bit, really. Getting the gold is the icing on the cake and a reminder of why we’re in this profession. In social work, you’re always worrying about other people and thinking about their needs. Taking a moment to celebrate all the hard work and passion people have for this job is really important. I’ve been in social work for about 20 years, so to receive this recognition in the awards’ 20th year feels particularly special.”
Celebrating 20 years of social work excellence
Founded in 2006 by social worker Beverley Williams MBE, the Social Worker of the Year Awards were established to recognise outstanding practice, challenge perceptions of the profession and shine a spotlight on the positive impact social workers make.
Two decades later, the Awards continue to provide a national platform for celebrating excellence and sharing examples of innovative, compassionate and effective practice.
Beverley Williams MBE, founder of the Social Worker of the Year Awards, said:
“20 years ago I stood with a simple vision in my heart. To create a space where we would pause and say thank you to our social workers. And 20 years later, look what that seed has become. For 20 years, this awards ceremony has been more than trophies and certificates. It has been a statement that says your work matters.”
Peter Hay, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Social Worker of the Year Awards, said:
“Twenty years ago, these Awards were founded on a simple but powerful belief: that social workers deserve recognition for the extraordinary difference they make to people’s lives. That belief remains just as important. Social work is a demanding and complex profession, and so much of its impact happens quietly, away from public attention. These Awards give us an opportunity to bring that work into the spotlight and recognise the skill, compassion and determination that underpin excellent practice.
“As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, we are enormously proud of everything the Awards have achieved and remain ambitious about their future. We want to continue championing the profession, sharing good practice and ensuring that exceptional social work receives the recognition it deserves.”
Emma Lewell-Buck MP, Patron of the Social Worker of the Year Awards, said: “Social workers aren’t very good at shouting about how great they are. They need more voices shouting about that, and that’s why it’s important we’re in Parliament today. It’s a job like no other. The hours are long and you’re dealing with multiple challenges on a daily basis. Sometimes it’s really nice for people to step away from that and celebrate everything that’s brilliant about the profession and all the good things they do.”
Recognising the profession
The 2026 Awards were supported by headline sponsor BASW England, Public Sector Sponsor UNISON and Award Sponsors WM ADASS; Cafcass; Essex County Council; Gloucestershire County Council; Norfolk County Council; Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust; National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
Samantha Baron, Interim CEO at BASW England, said:
“BASW England is privileged to have supported the awards on its 20th anniversary and send our warmest congratulations to all this year’s winners and finalists.
“The awards represent an important opportunity to celebrate our profession, share inspiring stories of exceptional practice, raise the profile of social work, and to pay tribute to the many individual and collective successes that deserve to be noticed.
“We also express our deepest gratitude to social workers across the country for supporting and advocating for individuals, families, and communities, recognising their incredible resilience and dedication. Thank you for everything that you do.”
The Awards also acknowledged the contribution of the independent judging panel, whose members included experienced social work professionals, previous winners and people with lived experience of receiving social work support.
The 20th anniversary celebrations mark the beginning of the next chapter for the Awards, which will continue to champion outstanding practice and raise the profile of the profession in 2027 and beyond.
2026 Gold and Silver Award Winners
Adult Social Worker of the Year
Gold: Jodie Gooday – Essex County Council
Children’s Social Worker of the Year
Gold: Thomas Edwards – Buckinghamshire Council/Furze Down School
Silver: Nana Yabbey-Hagan – Redbridge Council
Newly Qualified Adult Social Worker of the Year
Gold: Jade McKeown – Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Silver: Imogen Strutt – West London NHS Trust
Newly Qualified Children’s Social Worker of the Year
Gold: Cara Aldersley – Liverpool City Council
Silver: Shona McLaughlin – West Sussex County Council
Mental Health Social Worker of the Year
Gold: Nala Gunstone – Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Silver: Janine Cooper – Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council
Social Work Student of the Year
Gold: Stacie Finnegan – University of Wolverhampton
Silver: Polly Green – University of Hull/Change Grow Live
Practice Educator of the Year
Gold: Jane Phillips – Shropshire Council
Silver: Nadine Boyne – Independent Social Worker
Practice Leadership and Management Award, Adult Services
Gold: Jennifer Benbow – West Sussex County Council
Silver: Matthew Peaker – Hampshire County Council
Practice Leadership and Management Award, Children’s Services
Gold: Mahfuzul “Maf” Khan – London Borough of Newham
Silver: Louise Spragg – Telford and Wrekin Council
Team of the Year, Adult Services (including MDTs)
Gold: Octopus Energy Social Work Team – Octopus Energy
Silver: Changing Futures Wellbeing Team – Essex County Council
Team of the Year, Children’s Services (including MDTs)
Gold: Integrated Adolescent Service – Lewisham Council
Silver (joint): Birmingham and Solihull FDAC Service – Birmingham Children’s Trust; FDAC – Liverpool City Council
Social Justice Champion Award
Gold: ParentAssess
Silver (joint): Shantel B Thomas – Anti Racist Movement CIC; Debonico Aleski Brandy-Williams – Brandy Williams Limited
Practitioner-Led Research Award
Gold: Dr Philip Archard – Tavistock Education & Training / Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
Silver: Lucy Jacobs – London Borough of Bromley
Lifetime Achievement Award
Gold: Dave Fry (posthumously) – Croydon Council
Silver: Sidiq Ali – Bradford Children and Families Trust
Overall Social Workers of the Year 2026
Joint winners:
Dave Fry (posthumously) – Croydon Council
Mahfuzul “Maf” Khan – London Borough of Newham
2026 Sponsors
Headline sponsor: BASW England
Public Sector Sponsor: UNISON
Award Sponsors: West Midlands Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (WM ADASS); Cafcass; Essex County Council; Gloucestershire County Council; Norfolk County Council; Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust; National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).