Newly Qualified Adult Social Worker of the Year
Gary Spencer-Humphrey
ORGANISATION: Hampshire County Council
AWARD(S): Newly Qualified Adult Social Worker of the Year
https://vimeo.com/244800828
Gary’s strong commitment to community-based social work made his application stand out.
Since qualifying in 2016, Gary has used a range of community resources to help people build resilience. This has included taking the time in his lunch breaks to visit the town centre and speak with shopkeepers about opportunities available to service users.
In one case, Gary’s local knowledge enabled him to support a 40-year-old woman with a severe and enduring mental illness to reconnect with her local community. He knew that a local charity was looking for peer support volunteers and after discovering that the woman had undertaken a mentoring course at college, he was successfully able to link her to the service.
The service user described Gary as “very calming” – a sentiment echoed by colleagues in his application. Gary is valued by his team as a “committed and reliable team player” who is mature, motivated and enthusiastic in his approach, and always supportive of others.
The judges were also impressed by Gary’s appointment to a mental health tribunal panel, and his extensive voluntary experience with St John’s Ambulance, a youth offending team, and as a special constable. They credited him as being a “very competent social worker”.
Super supportive, very committed, really keen on his own development. Hugely impressive and a good team member.
Zoe Betts, Owner, iamsocialwork
Gary’s entry provided really strong practice examples and showed his ability to lead. He receives excellent feedback from service users and has shown great ability to link with his local community.
Jamie McEwan, Newly Qualified Adult Social Worker of the Year Award Winner 2016
Gary’s social work practice is enhanced by a wealth of knowledge and experience from a wide range of personal and professional life experiences. This is evident in the mature and calm manner that Gary approaches his practice, in particular in crisis intervention.”
Jo Ackerman, Consultant Social Worker, Hampshire County Council
He listened to what I had to say. Very knowledgeable. Excellent. I felt very relaxed. He’s truthful. Very calming.
Service user feedback
THE FINALISTS
David Evenden, Hampshire County Council
SILVER AWARD WINNER
Helen Simpson, Gloucestershire County Council
Lisa Holliday, Thurrock Council
Nicole Jones, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust