Profiles
9 March
Social workers
- Adina Sava
- Aisha
- Alicia Hamilton
- Amal Omar
- Amy Isaacs
- Amy Snell
- Andrew Connor
- Annette Deegan
- Arwie
- Ausra Zenkeviciute-Mileris
- Ayodeji Okolo
- Betty Oppong
- Carris Adamson
10 March
Social workers
- Catherine Holden
- Charlotte Davies
- Charlotte Hall
- Charlotte Wyles
- Claire Mason
- Connor Brough
- Daniel Thompson
- Danielle Hall
- Danielle Phillips
- Debra Roberts
- Doris Asare
- Elisha Jackson
11 March
Social workers
- Elizabeth O'Callaghan
- Ellis Powell
- Emma Kirkland
- Erica Leahy
- Esther Douglas
- Gail Hill
- Grace Lowe
- Hana Najsrova
- Hannah Stevens
- Heather Cusack
- Hilda Eduah
- James Moir
- Jasmine Southern
12 March
Team managers
Adina Sava
Adina is a social worker at Cornwall Council - Adult Social Care
Adina has supported me with my return to social work programme and has been on hand to provide support, advice and guidance. She is clear in her communication and as a colleague is incredibly supportive. As a worker, her supportive nature shines through and she ensures that the person she is working with is at the heart of everything she does. She is a wonderful advocate for our profession.
Aisha
Aisha is a social worker
Aisha has shown exceptional professionalism and skill in managing a highly complex case. In a very short space of time, she has taken responsibility for supporting a young person with significant needs and has approached this challenge with confidence, empathy, and determination. Within just three weeks, Aisha has coordinated multi-agency meetings, including mental health services, to ensure that appropriate support and actions are identified and implemented. Her ability to bring professionals together and foster partnership working demonstrates strong leadership and organizational skills.
One of Aisha’s greatest strengths is her commitment to ensuring the child’s voice is heard and respected. She has consistently captured the young person’s views and made sure they are central to decision-making processes. This child-centred approach reflects not only her professional competence but also her deep sense of care and advocacy for the children she supports.
Despite the short timeframe, Aisha has built a relationship of trust and reassurance with the young person. Her approach is both nurturing and firm—providing safety and structure while maintaining fairness and respect. This balance has helped the young person feel contained and supported, which is a remarkable achievement given the complexity of their circumstances. The positive response from the young person is a testament to Aisha’s ability to engage effectively and build meaningful connections.
Aisha’s work on this situation highlights her resilience, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to achieving the best outcomes. She has demonstrated skills in navigating challenging situations, advocating for the child, and ensuring that all agencies work collaboratively.
Alicia Hamilton
Alicia is a social worker at Swindon Borough Council
Alicia has demonstrated exceptional professional skills, determination and passion for the frontline work she does. She has incredible ability to form rapport with individuals, their informal networks, as well as formal stakeholders, even in the toughest of situations. She navigates a variety of complex cases, placing customers at the heart of everything, balancing conflicting views and applying positive risk-taking, where reasonably possible. Alicia displays abundance of professional integrity and self-awareness, the combination of which generates evidence-based outcomes, which are ethically and legally bolstered. She draws on Social Work Values and Ethics and is highly reflective of her work. Her sense of accountability, perseverance and dedication simply shine at every step of her professional journey. I have been amazed with the va-va-voom Alicia exuberates, regardless of how difficult a situation can be. She has natural ability to embrace challenges by tapping into reserves of dedication, resilience and professional curiosity. Alicia is an established team player, supervisor and both learner and a mentor in her current PEPS 1 training endeavour. She embodies wholeheartedly what the Social Work professional stands for.
Amal Omar
Amal is a social worker at Hertfordshire County Council
Amal is a ray of sunshine in a challenging and stressful environment of social work. She has been qualified for coming up to 2 years and has consistently supported the team, jumps in at the first opportunity to volunteer for allocations, duty, joint visits and (even though it is not part of her CPD) is an amazing baker sharing the positivity both through work, her personality and baked goods. She is an inspiration to the team with her attitude, value based and laughter. She has worked on many challenging cases with professionalism, commitment to the families she works with and other professionals. She is a valuable asset to the team and her presence makes work more inspiring every day. She is a passionate advocate for people’s rights and is not afraid to challenge inequalities or questionable attitudes she comes across. Her great strength is her ability to put people at the centre of her work and engage with individuals who have not had a positive experience of social care in the past. She upholds social work reputation and values; changing people’s previous perceptions of social workers to build a much more trusting and collaborative rapport with adults and families.
Amy Isaacs
Amy is a social worker at Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
I am delighted to nominate Amy Isaacs for the 'Amazing Social Worker 2026' award.
Amy embodies the very best of professional social work. Since joining our team, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication, empathy, and innovation in her practice, making a profound difference in the lives of the individuals and families she supports.
Amy’s work ethic is exemplary. As a part-time worker, she manages a complex caseload with calm professionalism while balancing significant additional responsibilities, including weekly AMHP duty and role of supervisor. She ensures every person feels heard, respected, and empowered. Notably, as a Social Supervisor, her hard work and expert risk management in supporting a complex individual conditionally discharged under the Ministry of Justice resulted in the successful achievement of an absolute discharge.
Crucially, Amy is a supportive and positive colleague who is always willing to share her knowledge and offer assistance. She contributes significantly to our team’s learning environment, participating in weekly peer supervision and modelling reflective practice. Amy doesn't just meet the standards of excellent social work; she continually raises them. She is truly an amazing social worker, and this recognition would be richly deserved.
Amy Snell
Amy is a social worker at Oxfordshire County Council
Amy embodies what it means to be a social worker. She is fearless and compassionate in advocating for human rights, protecting adults and children and supporting her colleagues. Amy shares her expertise generously with colleagues, newer members of staff and while now working for several years supporting children and families continues to promote and protect the rights of adults she comes into contact with through her work.
Andrew Connor
Andrew is a social worker at Central Bedfordshire Council
Andrew is an absolute cornerstone of his team and service. He consistently goes above and beyond, demonstrating unwavering commitment to the families he supports. As an authentic and deeply caring practitioner, Andrew works diligently to understand the full context of what is happening in a family’s life, seeing families as interconnected systems, and recognising that meaningful, sustained change only occurs when the whole family is supported.
Andrew brings a unique blend of skills to his practice, including humour, curiosity, persistence, and the ability to afford people time and space to be heard. These qualities enable him to build trust and foster genuine relationships with those he works with.
An example of practice that Andrew led involving complex parental mental health, Andrew worked holistically with the family, coordinating multi-agency input and ensuring the voices of all children were heard. His approach led to a reduction in risk and improved family functioning.
The values of the social work profession and Central Bedfordshire Council are embedded in Andrew’s core. They guide his practice and fuel his dedication. He is, without a doubt, a pillar of the service and a true ally to both families and colleagues.
Anette Deegan
Annette is a social worker at Cornwall Council - Adult Social Care
Netty is passionate about the work she does. When working in collaboration with the person she is allocated to she puts them at the centre of her work. She is strength based in what she does to ensure that best outcomes are achieved for each individual. Personally, she has supported me through my return to social work journey, and she is a worker that I aspire to be like.
Arwie
Arwie is a social worker at Telford & Wrekin Council
Arwie has recently been appointed as Senior Social Worker.
Arwie works tirelessly to ensure that every person she supports feels heard, valued, and respected. Her approach is rooted in genuine curiosity and care-she takes the time to understand people’s lives, their aspirations, and what truly matters to them.
This isn’t just about meeting needs; it’s about building trust and creating meaningful relationships. She champions their voices, even when engaging with those who are traditionally hard to reach.
Through patience, empathy, and persistence, she wins people over, helping them feel empowered and included.
She is a credit to social work.
Ausra Zenkeviciute-Mileris
Ausra is a social worker at City of Wolverhampton Council - Adult Disabilities team
Ausra has recently joined us in Adult Social Care and is a social worker in our disability service, mainly supporting young people to prepare for adulthood. She had been working as a children's social worker but it has taken her no time at all to find her feet in adults and has dedicated time to researching and updating her knowledge about legislation and best practice. She brings to life in her practice the vision we have for young people and adults with care and support needs - for them to live a gloriously ordinary life, whatever that looks like for them, whether that is going to university, living in their own home, finding a job, being able to go out with friends, have some independence and choice and control in everyday tasks etc. She has been recognised for her sound person-centred and strengths-based approaches, her passion and dedication. She always has the person at the centre of everything she does and has made such a difference to people's lives in the short time she has been with us. I would like to recognise her as an amazing social worker.
Ayodeji Okolo
Ayodeji is a social worker at Wolverhampton CAYPIC team 2
Ayodeji has been a highly committed and valued member of the CAYPIC team for approximately five years, and during this time, her professional growth has been exceptional. I have witnessed a significant increase in her confidence and the depth of her knowledge base, which has greatly enhanced her practice. As a result of this development, Ayodeji has consistently demonstrated her ability to advocate effectively for the children in her care, ensuring that the right outcomes are achieved. Her approach reflects a deep understanding of each child’s inner world, enabling her to interpret behaviours thoughtfully and meaningfully. This insight has not only informed her own practice but has also influenced other professionals, encouraging them to adopt a more child-centred perspective. Ayodeji’s ability to combine empathy, analytical thinking, and strong advocacy skills makes her an invaluable asset to the team and a powerful voice for the children she supports.
Betty Oppong
Betty is a social worker at Staffordshire County Council
Betty is a passionate, warm and professional Social Worker and her enthusiasm and patience is an inspiration.
I was Betty’s ASYE assessor and had the joy of sharing her first year as a qualified Social Worker. During this time as I shared my practice wisdom and we reflected on theory into practice, Betty gently guided and supported me to learn more about unconscious bias and her experience as a Black Woman and a Black Social Worker. I am grateful for Betty’s wisdom as it has enabled me to become a more aware and inclusive person and Social Worker.
Betty is a deeply reflective practitioner and treats all feedback as a gift for her to think about and consider whether changes to her practice are needed. It was brilliant supervising her as she would often open the sessions we had with “I have reflected on what we talked about last time and I think I will…” and there would inevitably be a consideration of how she could do things differently. Betty talks often about wanting to learn, develop and improve, she never sits still!
Betty holds the people she works and their families at the centre of her practice and works hard to hear their experiences and to support them to thrive and enjoy their life.
I feel privileged to work alongside Betty as her manager, colleague and friend and to learn with her.
Carris Adamson
Carris is a social worker at Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
1st nomination - Carris is an amazing person and social worker, she always goes above and beyond for our families and their loved ones. She always make sure that everyone is looked after and that each individual has their needs met.
Carris is very passionate about her work and the people she works with, nothing is too much trouble for Carris. She is full of ideas that contribute to improving patients lives and also the service that we provide.
2nd nomination - Always available to assist, to listen or advise work colleagues. Nothing is too much trouble for Carris. Friendly and approachable. Carris also takes on Students for placement even though her workload is very busy to give them some experience of what our Unit is like. A valued member of the Team.
Catherine Holden
Catherine is SAS (Social Work Education, ASYE, and Student Social Workers) Coordinator for Telford and Wrekin Council
Nomination 1
An exceptional social worker, Catherine, stands out as a true leader in shaping the future of the profession. Leading on the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) and Social Work Apprenticeships, Catherine works tirelessly to support students and collaborate with universities, ensuring that every learner receives the guidance and tools they need to thrive. Passionate about the regenerative build of the social work career, Catherine invests time in understanding people, their challenges, and their aspirations, creating a culture of empathy and respect.
Championing co-production, Catherine actively involves individuals with lived experience in recruitment processes and learning workshops, embedding real voices into the heart of social work education. Through innovative upskilling and training initiatives, Catherine empowers the next generation of social workers to uphold the highest standards of ethics, values, and knowledge. Her commitment ensures that students not only develop technical expertise but also cultivate empathy and advocacy skills to champion the best interests of those they serve.
Driven by a vision of inclusive practice, Catherine inspires future professionals to co-produce care plans that reflect people’s wishes and needs, making a tangible difference in everyday lives. Her dedication is a beacon for the profession’s future.
Nomination 2
Catherine Holden is someone who makes a real difference every single day. Her role as SAS (Social Work Education, ASYE, and Student Social Workers) Coordinator has developed and grown considerably yet she never loses her personal touch. Catherine is there for her colleagues and peers but particularly Students, Apprentices, Practice Educators, and Newly Qualified Social Workers. She offers guidance, encouragement, and a listening ear whenever needed. She has a natural way of helping people feel at ease.
Whether there is a student starting their first placement, an apprentice finding their feet, or a newly qualified Social Worker working through the challenges of their first year, Catherine is a consistent and steady support helping people to navigate and get the best from their placements and other learning opportunities.
She goes above and beyond to ensure everyone feels supported. Compassionate and generous with her time, she builds confidence in others and never forgets the importance of wellbeing. The impact of her work is felt across the whole service, shaping the future of Social Work in an incredibly positive way.
For these reasons, I believe Catherine truly deserves to be recognised as an Amazing Social Worker.
Charlotte Davies
Charlotte is a social worker at Staffordshire County Council
I've been working with Charlotte on the Supported Living Service Reviews - she is amazing, so hard working, understands the "ask" of her and achieves amazing outcomes for the individual and SCC without restricting individuals but ensuring that they are receiving the right amount of support. She is an excellent communicator and is able to work across all levels, individuals, commissioning, providers and colleagues. A really great asset to the Learning Disability Team.
Charlotte Hall
Charlotte is a social worker at Bradford District Care Foundation Trust
Charlotte works tirelessly to support those under her care and to support her colleagues. She is open, honest and brings authenticity to her interactions with people. She is able to harness her own experience of having a neurodiversity to positively support those around her, and to spread learning and awareness.
Charlotte Wyles
Charlotte is a social worker at Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Trust
Charlotte is a dedicated member of our team and supports the team effectively and with passion. Charlotte is always willing to help puts the services user at the front of all that she does, she supports students and colleagues alike. Charlotte is able to talk to anyone and make connections where others struggle she works in a difficult environment with complex and challenging individuals and makes it look easy.
Claire Mason
Claire is a social worker at Staffordshire County Council
Claire is thriving having graduated from the degree apprenticeship last year. She is a great team player and is always there to support colleagues, whether that's mentally or work-related. Claire goes above and beyond for our service users ensuring their outcomes are met and voices are heard. Claire has extremely creative thinking in support planning which never ceases to astound me as a practitioner. Claire is always very welcoming and supportive of newcomers to the team.
Connor Brough
Connor is a social worker at Oxford health, Willow Team
Connor and I are both newly and recently qualified in our professions. We have worked together on several complex cases. Connor has been a great source of support and motivation throughout these challenges and has always been available for advice. He has navigated the hurdles professionally and built excellent rapport with our clients.
Daniel Thompson
Daniel is a social worker at Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
I am nominating, my husband, Daniel Thompson because he has just qualified as a Social Work after finishing his three year degree and ASYE. He won LPFT values award last year, Apprentice of the year in 2024 and has contributed to BASW magazine on a few occasions, with his own view of Social Work. Alongside work he has two little boys who look up to him. He is hardworking Dad and Husband and I would love for him to be recognised for his amazing efforts; he is praised continuously for the support he provides.
Danielle Hall
Danielle is a social worker at Cumberland Council
Danielle Hall is the social worker you would want knocking on your door if you ever needed one. Only a year into her social work career, Danielle has already demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication and heart. She places relationship-based practice at the centre of everything she does, building trust, respect and genuine connection with every child and family she supports. Her ability to think creatively and work “outside the box” ensures that families feel truly seen, heard and understood.
Danielle consistently goes above and beyond, often without even realising it. For her, going the extra mile feels like “just doing her job,” yet the impact she makes is extraordinary. Her compassion runs deep, and her practice is rooted in empathy, integrity and unwavering advocacy. She is the biggest champion for the children she works with, ensuring their voices are amplified and their needs remain at the forefront.
Families regularly praise Danielle for her warmth, reliability and commitment, and colleagues value her as a collaborative, supportive and proactive team player. Danielle’s humility, passion and natural talent mark her as a truly outstanding social worker with an incredibly bright future ahead. She is wholeheartedly deserving of this recognition.
Danielle Phillips
Danielle is a social worker at Coventry City Council
Nomination 1
Danielle is an extremely dedicated, empathetic and relational experienced social worker who is an exceptional role model to others. Danielle shows tenacity to hold the safety of children and the most vulnerable parents visible physically and within the minds of others, she works so effectively to mobilise her colleagues, families, the community and professionals to truly foster working restoratively with others. Danielle is a humble practitioner who continually engages in self-reflective practice to challenge her values, beliefs, positionality remaining non expert and professionally compassionately curious. A shining example of the social work profession.
Nomination 2
Danielle demonstrates exceptional skill and creativity in her role as a social worker, consistently working in a relational and empathetic way with every family she supports. Her commitment shines through in her work with those who are highly vulnerable and often disconnected from services.
One area that Danielle has demonstrated exceptional practice and has gone above and beyond has been in making highly vulnerable pregnant mothers visible. She has coordinated multi-agency support to ensure safety in emergency circumstances and advocated in some of the most difficult situations. Danielle has been innovative in seeking the voices of wider family members and recording these to create written messages for their children to read later in life, and capturing photos and videos from birth so babies have treasured memories. She actively goes out into the community to find, support, and safeguard mothers who might otherwise remain unseen and to ensure they and their unborn babies receive the health support that they may not feel able to access. Through her relational practice, creativity, and relentless advocacy, Danielle has managed to build relationships with parents many other professionals have not been able to. Parents feel heard and supported in ways they report they have not been in the past. The welfare of the children and babies she has supported always remain at the heart of all of her work. Danielle is also a truly humble practitioner who is an inspiration to those who work with her.
Nomination 3
Dani is a phenomenal person and this shines in her social work practice, every single day. Dani is committed to supporting children and families to overcome their difficulties and is and advocate for all. There are so many examples I could give; and one such is the absolute dedication to support two siblings whilst they were in care, whose parent was in a mental health crisis. She has been consistent to provide them opportunities to spend safe and meaningful time with their mum and has collaborated to create a wonderful life story book for these children, to support their journey. Dani is always going above and beyond to support families to make positive change and to create happy memories for them.
Debra Roberts
Debra is a social worker at City of Wolverhampton Council
Nomination 1
I am honoured to nominate Deb Roberts for the BASW Amazing Social Worker Award in recognition of her exceptional commitment, compassion, and impact on the lives of children and families.
Deb consistently goes above and beyond to build meaningful, trusting relationships with both children and their foster families. Her ability to connect with children is so profound that, in some cases, they choose to speak only with her rather than their allocated Children’s Social Worker. This level of trust is a testament to the safe, nurturing environment she creates and the emotional security she provides.
Deb primarily supports kinship foster parents and demonstrates a deep understanding of the unique challenges they face. She acknowledges that many kinship foster parents do not view themselves as traditional foster parents and adapts her approach to ensure they feel respected, supported, and empowered in their role. Her sensitivity to their circumstances and her tailored support have been invaluable.
Foster parents consistently praise Deb for her unwavering support, often stating that her involvement has been the reason they’ve continued in their role. She is a passionate advocate for every child she supports, ensuring they receive the resources and opportunities needed to grow, build confidence, and develop a strong sense of self-worth.
Deb’s dedication, empathy, and professionalism make her an outstanding social worker and a truly deserving nominee for this award.
Nomination 2
Deb has worked extremely closely with the child’s allocated Social Worker to ensure positive outcomes, showing remarkable collaboration and adaptability. What stands out most is Deb’s capacity to go beyond her formal role: although her primary responsibility is to support foster parents, she has shown an acute awareness of the child’s inner world and the impact of fragile relationships on their emotional wellbeing. This level of insight is invaluable and shows to her child-centered approach.
When the allocated Social Worker was on leave, Deb went above and beyond to support the family during a particularly sensitive period. She provided a high level of guidance and reassurance, even making herself available out of hours to help the foster parent manage a challenging situation. This responsiveness and commitment ensured stability for the child and foster family at a critical time.
I have observed Deb’s practice on several occasions, and she consistently demonstrates professionalism, balance, and solution-focused thinking. Her interventions are thoughtful, measured, and always grounded in the best interests of the child. Deb’s ability to combine empathy with practical problem-solving makes her an outstanding practitioner and a valued colleague.
Doris Asare
Doris is a social worker at Adult Learning Disabilities Team South, Staffordshire County Council
Doris has very recently completed her ASYE year, during which she has grown in confidence and practice knowledge. What has shone from Doris from the very beginning is her social work values, the determination and commitment she holds to achieving the very best outcome for the individuals she works with, and also her skills in advocating for those who may find it difficult to voice their own views. Doris is the kind of practitioner you would want your family members to be supported by, should they need social work input. Doris has been a pleasure to work with and is becoming an incredible social worker!
Elisha Jackson
Elisha is a social worker at Oxford Council
Nomination 1
Elisha has been a wonderful social worker to one of the people we support. She has regular input, keeps to appointments and never fails to get back to the team when we have concerns despite being in a totally different locality nearly 2 hours away.
Elisha always acts in the best interests of the person in our service and has been an exceptional advocate. She has always supported our team to do the best job we can and never fails to respond to emails/phone calls promptly. She is the best social worker we work with, despite being the furthest away! Elisha is a credit to her profession.
Nomination 2
Elisha is so knowledgeable and approachable within the team. She is proficient in every task she undertakes and is a real team player.
Nomination 3
I have had contact with a number of social workers over the past 15+ years whilst trying to support my sister. My experience has been very mixed and in some situations has contributed to me feeling very stressed about the situation. Elisha was appointed to my sisters case last year and her contribution has been outstanding. She has gone beyond the call of duty to act in my sisters best interest and has been a great support to our family. Elisha is efficient, professional, personable and very caring.
Nomination 4
Elisha has been an exemplary social worker. She has visited my sister, who had been sectioned for over 12 years, on numerous occasions and sends a detailed account of her findings. She has Charlotte's best interest at heart, is personable, communicative and quick to respond. She has been proactive in making suggestions to improve Charlotte's life whether that be social, mental, emotional, financial or other suggestions. During Charlotte's long battle with her mental health Elisha has been the best social worker Charlotte has had by some way. I can't recommend her highly enough.
Nomination 5
Elisha Jackson became my son’s co-ordinator early in 2021 when he was resident at The Dallington’s in Northampton. It was decided that a less expensive and more permanent placement was needed as his disability would require 24/7 observation and care in the future. Elisha was tireless in searching and eventually securing a place at Ashley House near Leamington Spa. Throughout the transition Elisha supported my son and also us, his family. She took me from Chinnor to Ashley House to view the premises and meet with the staff before a definite decision was made. From then on Elisha continuously supported my son and communicated with me on a regular basis with support until he finally moved to Ashley House in January 2023. With Elisha's help and support he settled down remarkably well considering his state of mind and I feel it was mostly due to the confidence and continued support she gave him. I also feel we can rely on Elisha for continued support and accessibility when and if a problem arises. My husband is 86 yrs and I am 83yrs and we now have peace of mind which we have not had for many years due to the suffering my son has endured owing to his disability and health issues.
Elisha has dealt with us all with kindness and patience.
Ellis Powell
Ellis is a social worker at North East Lincolnshire Children's Services
Ellis, a dedicated social worker, has significantly impacted A's life by promoting quality children's social work. At 16, A faced numerous challenges, Ellis's intervention was crucial in turning A's life around.
Ellis provided A with consistent support and guidance, helping him navigate the complexities of his situation. By addressing A's immediate needs, such as securing stable housing, Ellis created a foundation for positive change. She also connected A with educational and vocational opportunities, giving him a sense of purpose and direction.
Through this support and lots of positive activities, including go karting, arcade trips and golf , Ellis helped A understand his upbringing, the consequences to breaching bail and encouraged him to make better choices. This approach has not only proven to A what Ellis will do different, as per his first question to her, but also built his self-esteem and resilience. Ellis's unwavering belief in A's potential played a pivotal role in motivating him to make positive changes.
By promoting a holistic approach to social work, Ellis ensured that A received comprehensive support, addressing both his immediate and long-term needs. This quality of care has empowered A to rebuild his life, demonstrating the profound impact that dedicated social workers can have on vulnerable youth.
Ellis deserves an award for her exceptional dedication and transformative impact as a social worker. By addressing A's immediate needs and long-term development, Ellis helped to significantly reduce the risk of exploitation, obtained a stable home from him and helped A have a more positive approach on life. Ellis has been determined to get A the support he needs and will advocate for him by shouting from the roof tops if she needs to. She is passionate, tenacious and cares deeply not only about A, but all of the children she supports. Ellis helps to keep A motivated and this intervention is undoubtedly going to have a lifelong profound impact upon him.
The young person, A, has been clear with all professionals that they have helped him and saved him. He is clear he doesn't want to lose his flat and is grateful for the opportunity he has been given.
Emma Kirkland
Emma is a senior social worker at Wolverhampton Leaving Care Team
Emma is an exceptionally dedicated and child-centred social worker who consistently goes above and beyond to ensure the children she supports receive the very best care and outcomes. Her unwavering commitment means she always prioritises the needs and well-being of the children over her own, demonstrating remarkable empathy and professionalism in every situation.
Emma’s depth of knowledge and expertise in social work is outstanding, and she generously shares this with colleagues and during supervision and meetings, fostering a culture of learning and collaboration within the team around the child. Her willingness to guide and support others reflects her strong sense of teamwork and her passion for achieving the best possible results for children and growth for workers.
Hardworking, reliable, and proactive, Emma never hesitates to step in and assist others when it benefits a child’s welfare. Her dedication, resilience, and child-first approach make her an invaluable asset to Wolverhampton and a true advocate for the children she supports.
Erica Leahy
Erica is a social worker at Bury Adult Learning Disability Team
I'm nominating Erica because she truly embodies the values and heart of social work. Erica consistently goes above and beyond to ensure the people she supports are treated with dignity, compassion and respect. She brings warmth, empathy and a calm professionalism to even the most challenging situations, always putting the needs of others first.
Erica has an incredible ability to connect with individuals and families, helping them feel heard, understood, and empowered. Her dedication to person-centred practice is evident in everything she does.
Erica doesn't just do her job, she helps to change lives. Her compassion, integrity and unwavering dedication make her an inspiration to everyone who works with her. She is truly amazing.
Esther Douglas
Esther is a social worker at City of Wolverhampton Council
Esther has been training Foster Carers on behalf of the local authority for approximately 10 years. In addition to training and supporting Foster Carers, Social Workers and colleagues Esther’s attainments also include - being a member of the Therapeutic and Trauma informed Safeguarding Children from Racial Trauma committee, sitting on Police and Commissioner Scrutiny Panels. She is a Community Service leader who routinely runs monthly Soup Kitchens and latterly she is now an organiser organising support for the Jamaica Hurricane emergency appeal following the devastation caused by hurricane Melissa throughout the island. Esther never tires of giving her support to colleagues, family, friends etc and she is a strong advocate to people who otherwise would have no voice.
Gail Hill
Gail is a social worker at Community Led Support Team South
Gail is an amazing person she encourages and supports the whole south team with dedication putting everyone's needs above her own.
Gail has an amazing ability to understand support and encourage us, to be better, to learn in a way more suited to our personal needs, Gail challenges and supports the team and we are constantly learning in a way, that encourages us as a team to be better and put the needs of the individual in a strength based way Gail shines the light for the whole team and the service users at the forefront.
I have never enjoyed working with someone so much, that it is a pleasure to learn, and i normally hate learning new things, but Gail endeavours to make the learning interesting sometimes even enjoyable and challenges everyone of us to join in active conversations share our thoughts and shine for ourselves and our service users.
Grace Lowe
Grace is a social worker at BCP Council, Christchurch Locality Team
Grace is an amazing Social Worker and team player. She goes above and beyond for the people that she supports as well as for the people in her team. Nothing is ever too much for to do. Grace has even stepped up this year to take on the role of supporting students when they are on placement. Grace is a joy to work with and the team would be lost without her.
Hana Najsrova
Hana is a social worker at Momentum Children's Charity
Hana has transformed Momentum Children’s Charity’s social work provision since its inception in 2022. She identified a critical gap for families facing life-challenging conditions and bereavement, building a specialist service that now supports over 100 families annually-a 142% increase in three years. Her work combines practical expertise with empathy and compassion, helping families navigate complex issues such as housing crises, financial hardship, and education challenges.
Hana’s impact is tangible: in 2024–25 alone, she secured £35,600 in Disability Living Allowance benefits and £5,057 in grants for families, alongside delivering 143 interventions. She has pioneered innovative practices, including bespoke training for staff, integrated referral systems, and collaborative pathways with hospital teams and charities like Young Lives vs Cancer.
Families describe her support as “life-changing,” “invaluable,” and “empowering,” while hospital partners call her “a true asset.” Her ability to combine professional rigour with empathy ensures families feel heard, supported, and equipped during their most vulnerable moments.
Hana exemplifies excellence in social work-driving systemic improvements while making a profound difference to individual lives. Her advocacy and commitment make her an outstanding candidate for this award.
Hannah Stevens
Hannah is a social worker at Hull City Council
Hannah is an outstanding practitioner whose work reflects expertise, compassion, and unwavering commitment to children with disabilities and their families, whose children have a disability. With extensive experience and knowledge, she provides support that is both practical and deeply empathetic, ensuring families feel understood and empowered.
Her practice is firmly child-centred, placing the needs, wishes, and voices of children at the heart of every decision. She consistently adopts a Family First approach, working collaboratively with parents and networks to create plans that strengthen relationships and promote stability.
What truly sets Hannah apart is her exceptional communication skills. She builds trust with families, professionals, and children alike, ensuring clarity and confidence throughout the process. Her ability to navigate complex situations with sensitivity and professionalism makes her a role model for disability social work.
For her dedication, knowledge, and commitment to improving lives, Hannah truly deserves recognition as a champion for children and families living with disability, she is a kind and caring social worker.
Heather Cusack
Heather is a social worker at BCP Council, Christchurch Locality Team
Heather is a wonderful person and has been a long standing member of the team. She has seen the team go through ups and downs as well during the course of her career so far. Heather has shown some brilliant resilience this year to things that have been thrown at her. Heather is a well-loved member of the team and has a fountain of knowledge to share with everyone who comes int the team whoever they are. Heather does not shy away from standing up for people she supports or team members or decisions that are made that she disagrees with she is a great advocate and we are proud to have her in our team. Thank you Heather.
Hilda Eduah
Hilda is a social worker at City AMHT
Very hardworking and responsive in their manner of working. Always approachable and able to discuss and reflect on clinical scenarios to help with planning a holistic approach to care. Very present in supporting care reviews and new staff settle into their roles.
James Moir
Nomination 1
I work at a small school for children with complex additional support needs in Auchterarder. James is one of the most committed social workers I have ever come across, and will go above and beyond any reasonable expectation to support the children in his care.
Nomination 2
James is very approachable, kind and caring and genuine. He has the best interests of all the children on his workload and is very professional.
Nomination 3
James is great at his job and goes extra miles for the children in his care. He is a lovely person.
Nomination 4
James has a significant amount of personal and inter personal qualities which make him an exceptional SW.
He has a high level of commitment and integrity: swift and effective communication, always professional and empathetic and is able to build constructive relationships with YP. Regarding the latter, he is the only one who has build a significantly meaningful relationship with one of my highly complex pupils, the first to do so in my 26 year as a teacher. He goes out of his way to connect with the YPs.
Jasmine Southern
Jasmine is a social worker at North East Lincolnshire Children's Services
Jasmine is an exceptional social worker whose practice reflects dedication, compassion, and resilience. Her strengths in court work are evident through her ability to present clear, evidence-based recommendations that promote permanence and stability for children. Jasmine’s values shine in her commitment to keeping children at the heart of every decision, ensuring their voices are heard and respected. She builds strong, trusting relationships with children through her relational approach, using creativity and empathy to engage even the most reluctant young people. Jasmine doesn’t shy away from the practical challenges of social work-she is hands-on and proactive, whether that means rolling up her sleeves when something needs cleaning or tackling complex family dynamics head-on. Her willingness to “do the do” demonstrates her belief that real change happens through action and presence. Jasmine combines professional skill with genuine care, making her a role model for best practice and a true advocate for children and families. Her ability to balance legal expertise, relational work, and practical support makes her an outstanding nominee for this award.
Elizabeth O'Callaghan
Elizabeth is a senior social worker at Wolverhampton City Council
I worked with Elizabeth O'Callaghan on a joint case. She was an excellent social worker, able to see risks and unsafe situations. She worked well with the family, with safety planning and completing good assessments.
I felt she had done an amazing job with the family that we work alongside, and she was very professional and operates with an anti-oppressive practice. She was always polite and pleasant to the family and worked in a way that was child-centred. I think she is an amazing social worker.
Adam Woolfenden
Adam is a team manager at BCP Council, Christchurch Locality Team
Adam you are a fantastic manager, they way you have supported the team over the past 2 years, with all the changes, trials and tribulations that it has gone through including being the only manager for quite a few months. Your knowledge and wisdom are like nothing I have seen before in a manager. You are able to support the team and meet deadlines, you are able to emphasis with your team and support them both with in the work role and with their wellbeing, it takes someone special to be able to find that sort of balance and you seem to do it with ease. You are never too busy for anyone and are always in demand.
Amanda Law
Amanda is a team manager at Adult West 2 Team - Fife Council
We are nominating our Team Manager Amanda Law because she embodies compassion, values-driven leadership and genuinely cares about the wellbeing of the whole team. She takes the time to understand our individual strengths, interests, and capacities, and assigns cases in a way that supports safe practice and meaningful development. She actively supports new learning and progression, encouraging each of us to grow in areas aligned with our skills and professional ambitions.
She is always mindful of our health and work-life balance, managing annual leave with fairness and flexibility, and promoting a culture where wellbeing is prioritised. Her leadership is empathetic and understanding, creating an environment where social workers feel trusted and respected.
She promotes independent decision making and listens carefully to our perspectives, encouraging professional curiosity in complex situations. Her reflective, calm approach helps us think critically and work confidently.
Above all, she consistently keeps the best outcomes for adults at the centre of every decision. Her supportive and ethical leadership strengthens our team, improves morale, and upholds high-quality, person-centred practice.
For those reasons, we believe she deserves recognition as an outstanding social work manager.
Bev Walker
Bev is a team manager at North East Lincolnshire Children's Services
Bev is an exceptional social work leader who embodies the values of relational and strengths-based practice. She is deeply nurturing and consistently goes above and beyond to support her team, often giving her own time to ensure others feel confident and capable. Bev boosts morale through team days, keeps everyone well-fed, and brings joy with her infectious positivity, even if her taste in music is questionable, she’s never afraid to belt out a tune and get children singing along! Her leadership style is hands-on and empowering; she takes the time to demonstrate tasks and works alongside colleagues rather than doing things for them, fostering growth and confidence. Bev’s ability to create strong relationships, maintain a supportive environment, and lead with empathy makes her a truly outstanding practice supervisor who inspires those around her every day.
Carradine Spring
Carradine is a team manager at Swindon Borough Council
Carradine is an inspirational manager leading the Building Independence Team - an adults intermediate care team - in a supportive, constructive and fair way. She is approachable, available and emphasises sustainability - manageable caseloads, regular supervision, and nothing is allocated without discussion first.
The team has been nominated for 3 years running in the annual Swindon Borough Council awards - the only team/individual nominated consistently - and won the award for "Togetherness" in 2024. Carradine herself was nominated for 'Learner of the Year' after successfully completing a management qualification and leading on a project to ensure consistent, equitable charging and recovery of care bill debts.
She is a fantastic individual, and deserving of recognition beyond Swindon!
Helen Harvey
Helen is a team manager at Barnsley Children's Services
Helen is a team manager within the children with disabilities team in Barnsley. I am nominating Helen for a shout out due to her ongoing, unwavering commitment to the disabled children in Barnsley. Helen Cates for and supports the most vulnerable children in our community, and demonstrates such empathy, love and care to our families. Helen has had a profoundly positive impact on many children, young people and their families lives and I want her to have some recognition for the amazing work she does. We love you Helen.
Jacqui Feeney
Jacqui is a group manager of IRO Team at Hull City Council
With 18 years of experience across the service, Jaq has supported numerous teams and services, bringing a wealth of knowledge and leadership to her current role.
As Group Manager for Independent Reviewing Officers, Jaq takes pride in the quality of work her team delivers for children in care. She led the development of a set of practice standards, ensuring children’s voices were central to the process, this was an initiative that has had a significant impact on practice and children's outcomes.
Jaq thrives on regional collaboration and shared learning. She has been instrumental in organising and planning the IRO Regional Conference for two consecutive years, hosted by Hull, demonstrating her commitment to promoting best practice across the Yorkshire and Humber region.
In addition, Jaq serves as Hull’s Corporate Parenting Champion, where she successfully recruited champions and drove awareness across the council. This leadership was highlighted by Ofsted as an example of strong and effective practice in a recent visit.
Judith Beddow
Judith is a team manager at Birmingham Children’s Trust
Judith is an amazing social worker. She currently manages BCT’s input to MAPPA; really difficult and serious work. Her career now spans decades of continuous commitment to children’s social work. She is always encouraging and supportive to her colleagues and an absolute mine of experience and information. She is a pleasure to work with and goes the extra mile to get things right for children.
Kate Wilson
Kate is a team manager at BCP Council
Kate joined the former Contact Centre, now leading in the ASC Hub, during a period of intense reorganisation and cultural transformation. In her role as Team Leader, Kate demonstrated exceptional leadership by guiding the team confidently into new territory with case management-an area unfamiliar to many staff members. Her ability to lead through change has been instrumental in ensuring stability and progress during this challenging time.
Transformational Leadership: Kate provided clarity and direction during a complex organisational shift, enabling her team to adapt quickly and effectively.
Strength-Based Approach: She champions strength-based care for the people we support while modelling strength-based leadership for her team.
For example:
Empowerment and Growth: Kate consistently highlights individual talents and fosters confidence in navigating unfamiliar and challenging areas, creating an environment where growth and collaboration thrive.
Positive Impact: Her kindness and resilience set her apart, inspiring colleagues to make a meaningful impact in their roles and teams.
Driving Innovation in Service Delivery: Kate played a pivotal role in shaping the use of Reablement services within the community. She initiated discussions to clarify guidance and ensure referrals included clear, achievable goals. Her leadership helped the team understand how Reablement differs from traditional care, focusing on empowering individuals to regain independence—such as managing medication or preparing meals—rather than creating dependency.
Equity, Inclusion and Diversity: Kate embraces diversity within her team, recognising their unique strengths and challenges, and continually seeks solutions to remove barriers and obstacles so everyone can work to their best ability. She also encourages the team to actively provide equitable, inclusive support to the people we serve.
Kate’s leadership embodies the values of compassion, innovation, and empowerment. She not only ensures high-quality care for service users but also invests in the professional development of her team. Her ability to balance operational excellence with human-centered leadership makes her an outstanding candidate for this award.
Leila Alizadeh-Mattingley
Leila is a team manager at Swindon Borough Council
Leila Alizadeh-Kensington is the driving force behind Integrated Pathways at Swindon Borough Council; a leader whose vision and compassion transform services and inspire people every day.
As Head of Service, Leila oversees Mental Health, Learning Disability, Transition, DoLS, and AMHP teams with exceptional clarity and confidence. Her deep knowledge of these diverse areas ensures high standards and consistent excellence across all services.
Leila fosters a culture of strengths-based practice, empowering staff and promoting independence, learning, and decision-making for the people they support. She is approachable, visible, and champions continual development, creating an environment where innovation and best practice thrive.
What truly sets Leila apart is her commitment to team wellbeing. She encourages peer-based reflection and mutual support, ensuring staff feel valued and resilient in challenging roles. Her leadership style combines strategic vision with genuine care, inspiring confidence and collaboration at every level.
Beyond her service, Leila actively contributes to wider forums, shaping strategies that influence social care development across the region. Her ability to unite teams and drive systemic improvement makes her a benchmark for leadership excellence.
Michelle Ashwell
Michelle is a team manager at Central Bedfordshire Council
I am honoured to nominate Michelle in recognition of her exceptional leadership, unwavering commitment to performance, and the unique, nurturing role she plays within her team and beyond.
Michelle is a leader who truly understands what it means to drive performance. She sets clear expectations, supports her team to meet them, and consistently delivers high-quality outcomes for children and families. Her strategic oversight is matched by her ability to translate vision into action, ensuring that targets are not just met, but exceeded.
What sets her apart, however, is her deeply human approach to leadership, she creates a safe, supportive environment where staff feel valued, heard, and empowered. Whether it’s a quiet word of encouragement, a check-in after a tough day, or a celebration of someone’s success, her emotional intelligence and care are ever-present.
Her leadership is not confined to the office. She is the first to roll up her sleeves and step in when needed- her presence is reassuring, her actions decisive, and her commitment unwavering.
Staff say of Michelle; “She’s the kind of leader who makes you feel like you’re never alone. She’s always there, whether you need advice, a sounding board, or just someone to listen.”