Practice Educator of the Year

           RECOGNISE INSPIRING SOCIAL WORK

Lynn Lock

ORGANISATION: Achieving for Children

AWARD(S): Practice Educator of the Year

 

Lynn juggles her practice educator role with managing the young people’s substance misuse service at Achieving for Children, the social enterprise running children’s services in the London boroughs of Kingston and Richmond.

 

The ringing endorsements from past students on Lynn’s nomination form speak volumes for her skills, which enable her to equip trainees with the capabilities they need to succeed not just during their placement but deep into social work careers. Several are now managers or senior practitioners.

 

Something that particularly shines through is her capacity for helping students to overcome doubts and anxieties so they can achieve their potential. “Because of her encouraging style, each day that I spent in Lynn’s team, I felt my passion return, my confidence in myself grow, and my motivation for a future in social work reignite,” said her most recent student.

 

As well as her motivational qualities, Lynn’s nomination highlighted her dedication to her students, keeping in touch with them many years after their placements, and her adaptability to their needs. The judges added that the impression was of someone who “sees every student afresh”, identifying strengths while putting in place tailored support to help people feel at home from the outset.

What stands out is Lynn’s ability to value students whatever their backgrounds. She sees every student afresh and works with them to enable them to achieve their potential.

Daniel Hope, Practice Educator of the Year Award Winner 2016

Lynn has had a great number of students and her nomination included a very good range of testimonials, including former students.

Jane Lindsay, Associate Dean, Kingston University and St George’s University of London

One thing I like about Lynn is that you can always hear the voice of the child through her work. Although she is an experienced social worker and manager, she is never complacent and continues to put the time in to study and improve her learning and practice.

Nick Whitfield, Chief Executive, Achieving for Children

Her vision for student social workers is selfless. She assessed me in relation to how well I could develop within the wider social work profession and how well I could develop skills to go on and support vulnerable people over time. This made me feel respected and confident in the process.

Student Social Worker

THE FINALISTS

Ali Bell, Cornwall Council

Amanda Lewis, Birmingham City Council

Jim Fox, Shropshire Council

SILVER AWARD WINNER

Suzannah Rockett, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

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