Adult Social Worker of the Year

Jennifer Staude stood out to the judges as a truly inspirational practitioner who has shaped the role of social work within an integrated health and social care service.

Jennifer trained in Australia but came to London to practise four years ago, taking up a senior post at Charing Cross Hospital’s neuro-rehabilitation unit. Here she works on a single, complex ward supporting people with acquired brain injury – both during their stay for rehabilitation and following discharge, as they readjust to life back in the community.

Jennifer is the first social worker to hold this post and her colleagues say she has shown the service “how invaluable social work is to excellent care”. She has developed her complex care planning role to meet a wide range of social need and has worked extensively to ensure the unit is well-equipped to identify and support key areas of social work practice, including mental capacity, safeguarding, and substance misuse.

Jennifer is a tenacious social worker and was praised for always fighting for the best outcomes for her clients, especially at a time of severe budget cuts. Against all odds, she has enabled a huge number of people to retain their independence in the community.