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, a social worker celebrates her friend, former colleague and now head of service, whom she praises for her deep empathy and her unwavering focus on the children and young people she supports.
I am honoured to nominate a former co-worker, and now friend, in recognition of her exceptional leadership, resilience, and unwavering commitment to children and young people.
She has journeyed from being care experienced to becoming a head of service - an extraordinary achievement that reflects her courage, determination and resilience.
At the start of her journey, she did not even believe she could become a social worker. The obstacles she faced, both personal and professional, could easily have prevented her from pursuing her ambitions.
Yet through hard work, perseverance and an unshakable belief in the importance of making a difference, she not only qualified as a social worker but went on to excel, rising to senior leadership.
'Her leadership is rooted in compassion'
What makes her stand out is that she has never lost sight of what truly matters: the children and young people at the heart of our work. Her lived experience gives her a unique perspective and deep empathy, ensuring that her leadership remains rooted in authenticity and compassion. She constantly reminds colleagues that behind every policy and decision are real children with hopes, struggles, and dreams.She is supportive, creative, and resilient, encouraging colleagues to think differently, problem-solve collaboratively, and strive for excellence in practice. Her ability to inspire others is matched by her willingness to walk alongside them, offering guidance, reassurance, and belief in their abilities. This culture of support has strengthened services and uplifted countless professionals.
A role model for care experienced people
Her authenticity has also made her a role model for care experienced people everywhere. She shows that their past does not define their future, and that reaching leadership of the highest level is possible. Through sharing her journey with honesty, she instils hope in both young people and colleagues who may doubt their own potential.She embodies everything this series celebrates - a leader who inspires, a colleague who supports, and above all, an advocate who never loses sight of the children and young people we serve.
For these reasons, I wholeheartedly nominate her for this award.
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. This could be 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.
