Cafcass worker wins Social Worker of the Year
2010
Cafcass Family Court Adviser Sue Hollings
has received the Social Worker of the Year 2010 award for 39
years of dedicated frontline service to children and
families.
On receiving the award Sue said, “It is such an honour and
I am just so delighted because it is such a
wonderful award to receive. It is always nice to be recognised,
but what’s more important is the direct impact that social work has
on so many people’s lives and especially the lives of
children.”
Since May this year Sue has been working as a Family Court Adviser
at the Cafcass office in Leeds and has recently moved to work with
the Bradford team. Speaking about her role at Cafcass Sue said, “I
really love working with children and I feel like I am now doing
what I set out to do 39 years ago. Everyday is different and
learning about and informing the court of the wishes and feelings
of children is very rewarding. I feel that working with other
professionals and the courts to help and support children and their
families is such an important role.”
Cafcass Service Manager and colleague Linda Gray said, “If I had
to sum up my impressions of Sue in a few words, then ‘passion’ and
‘courage’ would definitely feature. I am delighted that Sue’s
dedication and love of social work with vulnerable families and
children has been recognised, and that I have had the good fortune
to benefit from working with her.”
Darren Shaw, Cafcass Operational Director for the North said,
“Sue’s breadth of experience benefits all the children and families
she works with through Cafcass and, although she is modest about
her achievements, she is always keen to support her
colleagues.”
Sue was one of 16 social workers nationally to be shortlisted
for the award and she was one of 13 who received the accolade
commending her for her commitment at the ceremony that was held at
The Park Inn Hotel, Bedford on 30th October 2010 and was
sponsored by Sanctuary Personnel.
Sue’s career in social work started soon after leaving school when
she worked with children in residential care in 1971, and of this
experience she added, “The times might have been different, but
many issues that children are still the same.” In 1981 she
qualified as a social worker and worked within the mining
communities in Rotherham and later in Sheffield before moving into
a more children and families focused position in Bradford in 1989.
She then spent 20 years working as a frontline manager and has also
gained experience of providing educational support to looked after
children and to children with disabilities.
Picture caption: L-R James Rock, managing director of award
sponsors Sanctuary Personnel, Cafcass FCA Sue Hollings and Hilton
Dawson, chief executive of BASW.