Our My Brilliant Colleague series invites you to celebrate anyone who has inspired you in your career. It is part of Community Care’s ongoing Choose Social Work campaign, which aims to champion the brilliant work social workers do every day and inspire the next generation of practitioners.
In this entry, social work practice lead Mary Francis celebrates her former practice educator and colleague, principal social worker Dr Tanya Moore.
She shares her experience of being championed and supported as a newly qualified black social worker, adding that Dr Moore had "used her privilege to uplift others".
I am honoured to nominate Dr Tanya Moore for her unwavering encouragement and exemplary allyship, particularly in supporting Black social workers.
I first met Tanya as a social work student, where her warmth, authenticity, and passion for the profession left a lasting impression. Her teaching went beyond theory - it embodied the heart of social work.
Later, when Tanya joined my local authority, her leadership as social work lead and then principal social worker was transformative. She advocated for social workers at strategic levels, fostering a culture of care and visibility. Her nurturing leadership made us feel seen and valued.
As a Black early-career social worker, Tanya's belief in my potential was a beacon of hope. Her encouragement was pivotal when I applied for a funded doctoral programme.
Upon my success, she celebrated me and continued to champion my growth, creating opportunities, amplifying my voice and even stepping aside so I could speak on racism at a university event.
Tanya's actions exemplify true allyship - she has used her privilege to uplift others. Her support has been instrumental in shaping my professional journey and building my confidence.
I celebrate Dr Moore, not only for her outstanding leadership, but for being a personal champion who has made a profound difference in my life and the lives of many others.
How to nominate a colleague
You can nominate anyone who has inspired you in your career – whether current or former colleagues, managers, students, lecturers, mentors or prominent past or present sector figures whom you have admired from afar.Nominate your colleague or social work inspiration by filling in our nominations form with a letter or a few paragraphs (100-250 words) explaining how and why the person has inspired you.
*Despite the need to provide your name and role, you or the nominee can be anonymous in the published entry.*
If you have any questions, email our community journalist, Anastasia Koutsounia, at anastasia.koutsounia@markallengroup.com.
