National success for Southend social worker

October 27, 2015 by Southend Borough Council

National success for Southend social worker

Tuesday 27th October 2015

Southend social worker, Abbie Osborne has been shortlisted for a major national award.

Abbie, 24, is one of just four finalists in the nationwide contest to be crowned Newly Qualified Social Worker of the Year in the prestigious Social Worker of the Year Awards.

Winners will be revealed next month at an exclusive awards ceremony in London.

Delighted Abbie, who trained at South Essex College, works in the Children with Disabilities Team at the Lighthouse Centre based at Kingsdown School, Snakes Lane, Southend.

She said: “I feel very proud and thankful to have been nominated for this award, and am looking forward to the awards night in November. I am thankful that my hard work has been recognised.

“I completed my final year placement within my current role and I was over the moon when I was offered a permanent position once I had qualified. I love my role within the children with disabilities team, and love the variety of work.

“My first year was tough, and I was able to experience and develop a lot of different skills due to the work and my caseload.

“The team and management are so supportive and I felt I was given brilliant supervision, training opportunities and support to enable me to complete my Assessed and Supported First Year of Employment (ASYE) year successfully and support the families and children I worked alongside.”

Abbie’s role involves Child in Need and Child Protection assessments and she started her permanent job working for the Council in June last year, shortly after gaining a 2.1 in her BA degree.

Her final student report noted: “Abbie has shown a level of commitment, enthusiasm, dedication and sheer hard work that has been noticed and respected within the team, and if she takes that on into her professional career then she should be a great asset to whatever service she serves in.”

Meanwhile, the report at the end of Abbie’s Assessed and Supported First year of Employment concluded: “Abbie excelled in all areas of her work and more than fulfilled her potential.”

The Social Worker of the Year awards scheme is the leading celebration of its kind in the social care sector.

It recognises the achievements and successes of the profession’s most innovative and dedicated social workers.

Sally Melbourne, CEO Children’s Services at award sponsor, Core Assets, said: “This award recognises some of the best work in children’s social care and someone who consistently makes a positive difference to the lives of the children and families they support. To reach the finals is an outstanding achievement and something to be very proud of.”

Cllr Anne Jones, Executive Councillor for Children and Learning, says: “Abbie should be very proud of this great achievement to be nominated for a national award of this stature.

“This is also testament to the standard of our social workers in general and I hope that the great work that Abbie does is duly rewarded at the event.”

For more information about the Social Worker of the Year Awards please visit: www.socialworkawards.com.