Finalists announced in Social Work Awards 2016

With over 5,500 social workers currently practicing in Northern Ireland, 93 social work teams and individuals were nominated for the awards and 24 shortlisted as finalists.

The awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, are a Health and Social Care Board initiative aimed at highlighting the positive impact the profession has on individuals, families and communities.

Fionnuala McAndrew, Director of Social Care and Children at the Health and Social Care Board, congratulated all the shortlisted nominees.

“Social work often goes unseen, but the Social Work Awards give us a chance to honour and reward inspirational teams and individuals who are really making a difference, on a daily basis, to some of the most vulnerable people and families right across Northern Ireland.

“This year we received the largest number of nominations to date and I continue to be amazed at the examples of outstanding practice and commitment among our colleagues.

“This is a unique profession, often dealing with people in sensitive and difficult circumstances, and the Awards are our chance to celebrate and feel a great sense of pride in social work.”

Social Work Awards Finalists 2016

Children Services Team

• Specialist Fostering Team – Northern Health and Social Care Trust
• Armagh and Dungannon Looked After Children (Southern Health and Social Care Trust)
• Therapeutic Team for Looked After and Adopted Children (Northern Health and Social Care Trust)

Adult Services Team

• Dementia Home Support Team (Northern Health and Social Care Trust)
• Armagh and Dungannon Adult Physical Disability Team (Southern Health and Social Care Trust)
• Moyle Integrated Care Team (Northern Health and Social Care Trust)

Partnership Team

• The Regional Adult Safeguarding Programme (Belfast Health and Social Care Trust/South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust/Northern Health and Social Care Trust/Ulster University)
• Social Services Workforce Development and Training Team (Southern Health and  Social Care Trust/Southern Local Adult Safeguarding Partnership)
• Digital Resource for Kinship Foster Care (Voices of Young People in Care/Regional Adoption and Fostering Service)

Learning and Development Individual Award

• Jane McCullough (South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust)
• Diane Marshall (Northern Health and Social Care Trust)
• Pauline Thompson (South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust)

Children’s Services Individual Award

• Geraldine Boyce (Southern Health and Social Care Trust)
• Shane Donnelly (Western Health and  Social Care Trust)
• Martin Sloan (Belfast Health and Social Care Trust)

Adult Services Individual Award

• Angela Wilson (Southern Health and Social Care Trust)
• Geraldine Woods (Probation Board for Northern Ireland)
• Mark A Johnston (Belfast Health and Social Care Board)

Newly Qualified Social Worker Award

• Jonathan Dillon (Northern Health and Social Care Trust)
• Drew Neill (Ulster University)
• Fiona Pollock (Belfast Health and Social Care Trust)

NIASW Lifetime Achievement Award

• Jean O’Neill (Probation Board for Northern Ireland)
• Veronica McKee (Southern Health and Social Care Trust)
• Rosalynd Anderson (South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust)

Those nominated for the awards work for a number of bodies and organisations across the country including the Health and Social Care Trusts, the Probation Board, the education sector and in a range of other statutory, voluntary and community organisations.

The award winners will be announced at a celebratory lunch in Armagh on 18 November.

Ends