Following the enthusiasm and success of our regional social worker award, which has been awarded since September 2024, we have now awarded our first social work team award!

The winners of this first team award is a joint win between the Wetherby YOI Social Work Team from Leeds and the Staying Close Team from York.

Our panel of judges reviewed all submissions, and all selected their top three nominations along with their rationale. To ensure a fair process, a scoring system was used to rank the judges’ choices which resulted in the joint winners of Leeds and York.

The judging panel, who were all PSWs, comprised of:
Rob Fordyce, Kirklees
Sarah Forrest, East Riding
Claire Rutherford, Hull
Jo Miles, North Yorkshire

They provided the following rationale for the winning teams:

Leeds - Wetherby YOI Social Work Team
We were blown away by the breadth of work that has been undertaken by the Wetherby YOI team in really challenging situations. The scope of their feedback really highlighted the positive impact they have had not only on the children they are working with, but also a wide range of partners.

We could see quite clearly through the nomination that their work is underpinned by relational and restorative ways of working which is the key to their successes and which is evidenced in the fantastic feedback they received from their partners.

L-R: Social Workers’ Harriett Owens, Ann Hopkins, Elly Giles (Team Manager) Becky McCavera and Joe Williams

York - Staying Close Team
This nomination rose to the top because the Staying Close and Young People’s Support Team consistently delivers exceptional, life‑changing outcomes for some of the most vulnerable young people, through outstanding relational and trauma‑informed practice. Despite being a small team, they demonstrate unwavering commitment, persistence, and belief in young people who have often experienced rejection and instability. It takes skills, dedication and determination to make the difference and we could clearly see this from the difference that you have made within the children's lives.

L-R: Andrea Smith (Manager), Holly Hanson, Paul McGrath, Jasmine Bhatt, Nigel Rogers, Jayne Pickering

Congratulations to both teams!