The 2024 Social Worker of the Year Awards took place last week. In this blog, IMPACT Director Jon Glasby shares his experience of this years awards, and as a trustee of the awards.
When I was training as a social worker, I could see the difference that good social work made to people’s lives – but was always baffled by a broader lack of recognition and understanding. Members of the public, policy makers and the media often don’t understand what social work is and why it matters, and we’re not always very good at explaining this in ways that communicate to the audience in question. Most people I trained with were incredibly down-to-earth and self-deprecating – they genuinely didn’t understand that some of what they were doing was amazing, and they didn’t want to be seen as ‘showy’ or ‘making a fuss’.
In many ways these are lovely human qualities – and I loved every moment. However, it’s nice to make a bit of a ‘fuss’ sometimes (or to have someone who can make a ‘fuss’ of you), and perhaps sometimes you have to put on a bit of a ‘show’ in order for others to better understand what you. Fast forward more years than I care to admit, and I was so proud to become a trustee of England’s ‘Social Worker of the Year Awards’ (there are similar awards in each of the other nations). It was particularly meaningful to be taking part alongside IMPACT’s Clenton Farquharson, who’s a much more experienced trustee than me, and who helps to make sure that people who draw on care and support have a central say in what good social work looks like.
The Awards raise money each year from sponsors (please get in touch if you’d be interested in finding out more!), but essentially exist on good will, creativity and lots of hard work behind the scenes. Each year, there’s the annual awards ceremony, followed by a Parliamentary reception – and a moment in time when we can get social work in the spotlight and celebrate people’s contribution. This year we were delighted to have BASW (who are also part of IMPACT’s Leadership Team) as our headline sponsor, making such a fantastic evening possible.
The 2024 ceremony was just as beautiful as always – so full of joy and emotion. Our host, Ashley John-Baptiste, talked movingly about his experiences as a young person in care, and we met the new Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, Janet Daby (the first social worker to hold the role). In a summer marred by horrific far-right rioting, it was also fitting that the overall winner was the People from Abroad Team from Norfolk, supporting citizens of other countries, including those with no recourse to public funds. A personal highlight is always the social justice award, won this year by the Anti-Racist Movement (A.R.M), an independent platform for black female social workers.
IMPACT was fortunate enough to be asked to give out the awards for University social work lecturer of the year and for technology-enabled lives, as well as to help shape a brand new award for practitioner-researchers. The latter make a key contribution in what can often be very lonely roles, and our December 2024 workshop on practitioner research will explore scope to develop a peer support network for such colleagues.
Above all, though, this was just a very special night, with lots of laughter, lots of tears and lots of love – the one night of the year when it’s ok to celebrate!