Newly Qualified Adult Social Worker of the Year

Rebecca Payne is a social worker who puts the extra into extra-curricular. During her social work degree, she worked as a domiciliary care worker, volunteered as an advocate, and worked for a self-harm helpline. In her assessed and supported year in employment, she undertook training in basic telecare assessments, and has used the knowledge gained to support colleagues, reduce waiting times and risk, and improve people’s quality of life.

As a result, Rebecca’s colleagues at Gloucestershire County Council recognise her as a practitioner who has made an “impressive impact” early on in her career, always going the extra mile for her clients. Her nomination detailed her ambition to become a practice educator – she is passionate about social work and sharing learning, and has already arranged a session to promote and consolidate reflective practice within her team.

Rebecca continues to take on increasingly complex cases and her ability to manage this work successfully was evident in the feedback from service users, which described a social worker who consistently puts people’s rights at the heart of her approach.

The judges praised Rebecca for her fantastic achievements, her ambition and the positive relationships she has clearly created with people she supports and their families.