We’re proud to announce that our Reconnect: Care After Custody Team won the gold award for Adult Services Team of the Year at the Social Worker of the Year Awards in London on Friday (8 November 2024).

 

This award is open to all multidisciplinary social work teams who have made a big difference through their outstanding work with adults.

One of the reasons for the team’s nomination was “they work tirelessly to change the lives of a client group that is so often overlooked.”

The Reconnect Team seek to improve the continuity of health and care needs of vulnerable people leaving prison by working with them before they leave supporting their transition to community-based services.

Acting Associate Director for Social Work, Michael Holt said:

“The team represent the best of social work, multi-disciplinary and inter-organisational working, on behalf of some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in our communities.

The team have established a strong reputation since forming and have now received recognition for the quality of their work at a national level – well done to all involved!”

Alongside the Reconnect Team, we were shortlisted three times in three different categories:

  • Practitioner Led Research Award - Katy Cleece – Social Work Research Lead
  • Practice Educator of the Year - Wendy Hardman – Preston West Community Mental Health Team
  • Hayley Driver – Consultant Social Worker in Children and Young People Mental Health Services

The Social Worker of the Year Awards is the only major national awards event for social work in England, attracting hundreds of entries every year.

This year the awards had 18 categories across both children’s and adult services including two new categories for 2024; the Technology Enabled Lives and Practice Award and Practitioner-Led Research Award. 

Well done to all our colleagues.