England’s only national social care awards announce nominees

Finalists have been selected for this years Social Worker of the Year awards that will take place on November 4, 2022.  

The awards are the only national event for social workers in England. They receive hundreds of entries each year and reach millions of people with positive stories about outstanding social work. 

After three years of virtual ceremonies, this year’s celebration will be held in London.  

Judges are set to announce gold and silver award winners in 18 categories across adult and social care. Some returning categories this year include Social Justice Advocate Award, Lifetime Achievement Award and University of the Year.  

The ceremony has been an annual occurrence since 2004 – when Beverly Williams qualified as a social worker and thought people in the sector deserved more recognition. Since then, Beverly has been awarded an MBE for her efforts and continues to be involved in organising the event. 

In 2011 the awards achieved charitable status for its work celebrating hard-working care workers each year. 

The nominations are as follows:

Student Social Worker of the Year: 

• Denford Duri, University of Hull 
• Momoh Etunu Suleman, University of Bradford  
• Natasha Round, The Open University  
• Shannon Briddon, Nottingham Trent University  

• Solomon Tugbiyele, Anglia Ruskin University  
• Stephanie Burns, University of Sunderland  

University of the year: 

• Oxford Brooks University  
• Solen University, Southampton  

• University of Chester  

Newly Qualified Adult Social Worker of the Year: 

• Anna Boddy, City of York Council  
• Cheryl Dixon, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council 
• Helen Southgate, Suffolk County Council  

• Naomi Thompson, Worcestershire County Council  
• Sehrish Zeb, Essex County Council  

Newly Qualified Children’s Social Worker of the Year  

• Amy White, Essex County Council  
• Dawn Bedwell, Essex County Council  

• Mi-Gyung Kim, Achieving for Children  
• Skerntian Keri, Wiltshire Council  
• Joe Harrison, Essex County Council  
• Ivenna Finn, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils  
• Maisie Pearce-Connor, London Borough of Hounslow  

Practice Educator of the Year 

• Roz Ryder, Shropshire Council  
• Carolyn Smith, Wakefield Council  
• Sue Powell, Essex County Council  
• Minette Moorhouse, Northumberland County Council  

• Jackie Flynn, Essex County Council  
• Laura Webb, Bedford Borough Council  

Team of the Year, Adult Services: 

• Enhanced Support Team, Derbyshire County Council 
• The Team around Kasibba: Camden Integrated Learning Disability Service, London Borough of Camden and Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust  

• Social Work Student Connect Team 
• Central Adult Safeguarding Team, Suffolk County Council 
• Day Unit Multi-Disciplinary Team, Mary Stevens Hospice 
• Independent Futures Team, Hampshire County Council 

Team of the Year, Children Services: 

• Kingston and Richmond Leaving Care / UASC Team, Achieving for Children 
• Reunification Team, Coventry City Council 
• 24/7 In The Home Programme Team, Advanced CCA 
• Social Work Student Connect 
• Families First Fostering  

• Make a Change Team, Suffolk County Council 

Supportive Social Work Employer Award: 

• Children and Young People Service, Wakefield Council  
• Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council  
• Children’s Social Care, Durham County Council  

• Children’s Services, Torbay Council  

Team Leader of the Year, Adult Services: 

• Ian Hall, Northumberland County Council  
• Tom Wood, Devon County Council and Devon Partnership NHS Trust  
• Karen Aspinall, Essex County Council 

• Louise White, Somerset County Council 
• Lucy Hunt, Devon County Council  
• Janet Hardy, Somerset County Council  

Team Leader of the Year, Children Services: 

• Cheryl Grazette, Hertfordshire County Council 

• Helen Harding, London Borough of Havering 
• Ayshea Dalby, Leicestershire County Council 
• Heather Johns, Manchester City Council 
• Michelle Morris, Aspris Fostering Services 
• Yvette Lima, Achieving for Children 

Digital Transformation in Social Work Award: 

• Social Work Student Connect  
• Social Work Team, Mary Stevens Hospice  
• Hull City Council  
• Essex TEC Partnership, Essex County Council, Millbrook Healthcare and Provide CIC 

• Festival of Learning, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council  
• Adult Learning Disabilities and Innovation Team, Norfolk County Council  

Supporting Children in Education Award: 

• Charlotte Elliot, Devon County Council  
• Lauren Main, Gloucestershire County Council  

• Samantha Gilham, London Borough of Camden 

Social Justice Advocate Award: 

• Andrea White, Stockton-on-Tees Borough County Council  
• Ivor Wepke, Birmingham Youth Offending Service  
• Kirstie Baughan, Central Bedfordshire Council  

• Millie Kerr, Brighton and Hove City Council  
• Social Work Student Connect  

Mental Health Social Worker of the Year Award: 

• Charlotte McFarthing, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust  
• Elvis Jeremiah, Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust  

• Tara Mitchell, Leeds and York NHS Partnership Foundation Trust  
• Sarah Asprey, Devon County Council  
• Lynn Counter, Cornwall Council  

Adult Social Worker of the Year: 

• Deborah Solomon, Derbyshire County Council  

• Clare Fisk, Suffolk County Council 
• Bhavna Maher, Leicester City Council  
• Sally Adams, Salford Care Organisation, Northern Care Alliance NHS Group 
• Jennifer Paddock, Gloucestershire County Council 

Children’s Social Worker of the Year: 

• Annmarie Nero, Achieving for Children  
• Bobbie Dean, Norfolk County Council 
• Kathryn Vayro, Norfolk County Council  
• Nathan Head, Durham County Council  

Lifetime Achievement Award: 

• Elizabeth Parry, Sunderland City Council  
• Tony Wright, Forward Assist 
• Suzanne Brown, NAVIGO 
• Owen Garrod, Norfolk County Council  
• Sarah Lowe 

• Val Swan, Sunderland City Council 

Photo by Giorgio Trovato