Westminster welcomes award-winning Social Workers ahead of Social Work Week

Outstanding Social Workers who won Gold in the Social Worker of the Year Awards 2023 were individually congratulated by government Ministers at an exclusive Parliamentary Reception in the House of Commons this week.  

The winners included Omaid Badar from Kirklees Children’s Social Care, who received the ‘Overall Social Worker of the Year’ and the Children’s Social Worker of the Year.  

Omaid has been inspired to help others since a young age. Born in Afghanistan, and after suffering the loss of his father and brother at a young age, he spent his early years in a refugee camp. He came to England aged 14 but despite not being able to speak English, he rapidly embraced his life here. It was through his positive experience in the care system, that led Omaid to the social work profession. Despite it being just four years since he qualified as a social worker, Omaid is not only progressing well in his career, but he is also encouraging and supporting others through his roles as a practice educator and sitting on the Fostering Panel.  

Speaking at the event, Omaid said “These awards are amazing, and I think everybody in social work should be recognised. From my perspective and what I have been through, it always encouraged me to be a social worker and work with young people to make sure they have consistency and stability in care. If you focus, if you put your heart into it, anything can be possible. ”
 

Meera Spillett, who won the Lifetime Achievement Award also spoke at the event. Meera from Medway in Kent has over 35 years’ experience as a social worker. As an experienced social worker, author, ambassador, speaker and inspector, Meera has served in several significant roles throughout her career, including as Director of Children’s Services. She is acknowledged as having been instrumental in addressing the underrepresentation of black leaders in the social care sector.   

Meera said “Social work can positively change the lives of children and adults, and protect those who are vulnerable and at risk, in my view, social workers should have greater respect for all that they do. Every social worker I know is driven by a vocation to help and support others; they are invaluable.  

“I started life with a social worker, have been a social worker and had a social worker again in 2020 during my battle against breast cancer. We need our social workers, and I am privileged to have been one of them and I can see the talent in this room for the next 40 years.” 

Charity patron and sponsor of the Reception, Tim Loughton MP thanked those attending for their outstanding work and commitment. 

Minister of State for Social Care, Helen Whately MP spoke at the event, saying “It is right that we take this moment to reflect on the dedication and service of social workers across the country. I celebrate the role that these awards play in recognising great practice and great people in the field of social work, and I thank all of you involved in social work for your dedication to the profession.” 

Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, David Johnston MP also spoke and added, “I am delighted to come here and celebrate the winners of these awards, and also everybody that had been nominated because we don’t hear enough about all of the good that social workers are doing across the country. The difference social workers make to children and their families can be truly transformational.” 

Tracey Crouch MP for Chatham and Aylesford and a member of the APPG for Tackling Loneliness and Connected Communities; Chair of the APPG for Care Experienced Children and Young People and Adult Social Care Steve McCabe MP and Shadow Minister for Education, Helen Hayes MP also met personally with the winners to hear about their practice. 

This year’s Social Worker of the Year Awards will open for entries on Monday 8 April 2024. In total, there are 19 different categories across both children’s and adult services including two new categories for 2024 the Technology Enabled Lives and Practice Award and Practitioner-Led Research Award.  

Peter Hay CBE, Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Social Work Awards charity, said “The Parliamentary Reception was a fantastic event, and we would like to thank all those who attended; our winners, sponsors, supporters and Ministers. We look forward to the Awards this year and encourage applications from all aspects of Social Work. If you know of a team or professional doing outstanding work in their field; please put them forward for the Awards.” 

The sponsors of the 2023 Social Worker of the Year Awards also attended the event. They included headline sponsors, Sanctuary Personnel and Corporate Partner, BASW England (The British Association of Social Workers).  Category supporters included Adass West Midlands, Bradford Social Work Teaching Partnership, Cafcass, Central Bedfordshire Council, Coventry City Council, Children’s Social Work Matters (CSWM), Essex County Council, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, London Borough of Havering, London Borough of Wandsworth, S12 Solutions, Stockton‑on‑Tees Borough Council, Suffolk County Council and Unison. 

The Social Worker of the Year Awards were founded in 2006 by Social Worker Beverley Williams MBE. It remains the only major national awards event for social work in England, attracting hundreds of entries every year and reaching millions of people with positive stories of outstanding social work, creative and compassionate practitioners and outstanding practice. 

For more information about the Social Worker of the Year Awards, visit www.socialworkawards.com.  

Photography from the reception is available here.