Social Worker of the Year Awards 2025 celebrate excellence across the profession

The annual event, established in 2006 by independent social worker Beverley Williams MBE, recognises excellence and innovation across social work in England.

This year’s Overall Social Worker of the Year was Sophia Hussain, who also received the Adult Social Worker of the Year Award. Hussain is the Honour-Based Abuse Lead within the Reach Out Domestic Abuse Service at Redbridge Local Authority.

Speaking about her win, she said:

“I didn’t think I’d win anything so I’m over the moon! When you’re practicing, you don’t really think of these things, you just know you’re fighting the good fight and you’re trying your best to try and change someone else’s life, the best that you can. I just feel so honoured.”

Peter Hay CBE, Chair of Trustees for the Social Worker of the Year Awards, said:

“The Awards are a powerful reminder of the difference social workers make to people’s lives every single day. They shine a light on the dedication and compassion that drive our profession forward. It’s a privilege to celebrate these remarkable achievements and to thank our sponsors for supporting this incredibly important event.”

Professor Sam Baron, Interim Chief Executive and Director for Wales and England at BASW England, added:

“On behalf of BASW England, congratulations to everyone who has been nominated and won awards this year.

“These awards are not only an opportunity to champion your achievements but also shine a spotlight on the positive difference that amazing social work practice makes to people’s lives. Whether it’s advancing people’s rights and challenging injustices, to advocating for fairness and promoting wellbeing, the role of social work has never been more important.

“We’re proud to have such a richly diverse profession that pulls together to uphold the ethics and values of social work. From students and newly qualified, to educators, researchers, generic and specialist practitioners, professional leaders and experienced social workers engaged in direct practice, your contributions are recognised and appreciated.

“We also express our deepest thanks to social workers across the country for all they do every day to support and advocate for individuals, families, and communities.

“It has been a great privilege to join you all this evening in celebrating our profession, hearing inspiring stories of exceptional social work in action, and to pay tribute to the many individual and collective successes that deserve to be noticed and applauded.”

Nineteen award categories were recognised during the evening, celebrating outstanding contributions across adult and children’s services, education, leadership, and innovation.

2025 Gold and Silver Award Winners

Adult Social Worker of the Year

🥇 Gold – Sophia Hussain, Redbridge Local Authority

🥈 Silver – Jayne Lee, Essex County Council

🥈 Silver – Alex Giasemidis, Cambridgeshire County Council

Children’s Social Worker of the Year

🥇 Gold – Andrea Bassi, Birmingham Children’s Trust

🥈 Silver – Tim Bangora, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham

Social Justice Champion

🥇 Gold – Thabang Thacker, Cambridgeshire County Council

🥈 Silver – David Redpath-Smith, Cheshire West and Chester Council

Team of the Year, Adult Services

🥇 Gold – Homeless Move On Team, Bristol City Council

🥈 Silver – Social Work Team, Octopus Energy

🥈 Silver – Mental Health Accommodation Model, Essex County Council

Team of the Year, Children’s Services

🥇 Gold – Out of Hours Team, Hampshire County Council

🥈 Silver – Young Carers Team, Central Bedfordshire Council

Practice Leadership and Management, Adult Services

🥇 Gold – Eirini Zochiou, Sunderland City Council

🥈 Silver – Fran Marshall, Cambridgeshire County Council

🥈 Silver – Helen Macisaac, Essex County Council

Practice Leadership and Management, Children’s Services

🥇 Gold – Anne Stoker, London Borough of Enfield

🥈 Silver – Antonia Ogundayisi, Essex County Council

🥈 Silver – Paula Purcell, London Borough of Redbridge

Social Work Student of the Year

🥇 Gold – Susuana Gyampoh Senghor, London Metropolitan University

🥈 Silver – Lisa Andrews, University of Huddersfield

Supportive Social Work Employer

🥇 Gold – Birmingham Children’s Trust

🥈 Silver – WSCC Children, Young People & Learning Service, West Sussex County Council

Lifetime Achievement Award

🥇 Gold – Maria Moore, Liverpool City Council

🥈 Silver – John Lovatt, Hartlepool Borough Council

🥈 Silver – Sally Smith, Independent Social Worker

Mental Health Social Worker of the Year

🥇 Gold – Debbie Dobson, North Lincolnshire Council

🥈 Silver – Molly Butler, Calderdale Council

International Social Work Award

🥇 Gold – Sharon Ndoro, Cambridgeshire County Council

🥈 Silver – Theresa Kambani, Bedford Borough Council

Technology Enabled Lives and Innovation in Practice

🥇 Gold – Kent County Council Technology Enhanced Lives Service, Kent County Council

🥈 Silver – The Scribe Project Team, Cafcass

Newly Qualified Adult Social Worker of the Year

🥇 Gold – Paul Caston, Livewell Southwest

🥈 Silver – Rhiannon Williams, Brighton and Hove City Council

Newly Qualified Children’s Social Worker of the Year

🥇 Gold – Lashonte Royal, Hillingdon Council

🥈 Silver – Michela Cambareri, Lancashire South Cumbria Foundation Trust

Practice Educator of the Year

🥇 Gold – Natalie Robertson, Lambeth Council

🥈 Silver – Karen Rodgers, Cambridgeshire County Council

University Social Work Lecturer of the Year

🥇 Gold – Sian Thomas, University of Birmingham

🥈 Silver – Aga M. Buckley, Kingston University London

Practitioner-Led Research Award

🥇 Gold – The Experts in Practice Project, Darlington People Group Directorate

🥈 Silver – Lisa Richey