Social work practitioners, leaders and academics were recognised for their achievements and contributions to the sector in the King's Birthday Honours.
They were joined by social care managers and foster carers, who were also awarded gongs in the 2025 list.
Among sector leaders, Annie Hudson, the outgoing chair of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel, becomes a dame for her services to child protection.
Safeguarding leader becomes dame
She has just completed a five-year stint leading the body that oversees learning from serious cases involving children who have been abused or neglected, having previously served as director of children's services (DCS) at Bristol and Lambeth councils.A social worker by profession, Hudson was also the chief executive of the College of Social Work from 2013 until its demise in 2015.
Commenting on her honour, she said: “I am privileged to have worked with many extraordinary people during the course of my career, including most recently, colleagues on the Child Safeguarding Review Panel. Their tireless commitment to helping families and protecting children has been phenomenal.
“I am deeply grateful for the support and counsel that they, along with family and friends, have always given me."
Knighthood for former children's trust chair
Alonsgide Hudson, the most senior honour dispensed to a social work professional was the knighthood awarded to Andrew Christie, who was the DCS at the former 'tri-borough' councils of Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster.In a career spanning five decades, Christie has also been a children's commissioner appointed by Department for Education to support struggling authorities and was chair of Birmingham Children's Trust from 2016-23.
Andy Couldrick, who served alongside Christie as the trust's chief executive, before succeeding him as chair, said that his "calm leadership and practice wisdom were instrumental in the improvement in children's social care in the city".
“I am delighted that his contribution to children's services, here and nationally, has been recognised," Couldrick added.
Hudson and Christie were among a clutch of current and former DCSs and directors of adult social services honoured, including two recent presidents of the national associations for senior leaders.
Care experienced director recognised
Andy Smith, president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services from 2024-25, was awarded a CBE for services to disadvantaged and vulnerable children.
The strategic director of people services at Derby council, who spent time in care as a child, said he was "humbled" to receive the honour.
"This recognition is not just for me, but for all my colleagues who work tirelessly to make a real difference in the lives of our children every single day," he said.
Also awarded a CBE was Smith's counterpart at Hartlepool council, Sally Robinson, under whose leadership the North East authority's children's services' Ofsted rating has improved from good to outstanding.
Gong for first black president of ADASS
The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services' (ADASS) first black president, Beverley Tarka, was awarded an OBE for services to adult social care and unpaid carers, whose cause she championed during her presidential year, 2023-24.Tarka spent the bulk of a 30-year career in the sector at Haringey council, starting out as a residential social worker before rising to become director of adults' services, from which post she retired earlier this year.
In a statement, her former council said: "Her OBE honours a lifetime of dedication to improving lives and influencing national policy through compassion, leadership, as well as her own personal experiences."
"Beverley’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. Having been a resident in Tottenham, she began her career as a residential social worker in Haringey and eventually became a nationally recognised figure in the sector."
Social work leader praised for 'exceptionally high standards'
Other social work leaders honoured included Rasheed Pendry, director of practice for children and family social care at Wandsworth council, who was given an OBE.The London borough said he was instrumental in Wandsworth and its partner authority, Richmond council, winning the supportive employer prize at the 2024 Social Worker of the Year Awards.
“Rasheed’s passion and leadership have helped transform the lives of many children and young people across the borough," said Wandsworth's cabinet member for children, Judi Gasser.
“He’s built a high-quality team and set exceptionally high standards for what good practice looks like."
Scotland's social work chief hailed
Also recognised with an OBE was Iona Colvin, who has been the Scottish Government's chief social work adviser since 2017 and formerly worked as a practitioner, manager and council director in the West of Scotland.Her contribution to social work in Scotland was warmly praised by the Scottish Association of Social Work (SASW) and leadership Social Work Scotland (SWS).
SASW national director Alison Bavidge and Ben Farrugia, director of SWS, said she had built up the Office of the Chief Social Work Advissr into "an influential social work voice across government", which had helped ensure that "social work values are reflected in policy decisions".
Under the Care Reform (Scotland) Bill, recently passed by the Scottish Parliament, the adviser role will be placed on a statutory footing and a National Social Work Agency will be created to oversee the profession.
Bavidge and Farrugia said Colvin had been "instrumental" in the setting up of the agency, and in doing so had "progressed the status and national value of a profession often misunderstood and under-appreciated".
PSW honoured
Meanwhile, Paul McGee, principal child and family social worker at Essex council, was awarded an MBE.McGee formerly served as co-chair of the Principal Children and Families Social Worker Network and is also the head of the Essex Social Care Academy, the council's learning and development service for practitioners.
Essex is the longstanding event partner for Community Care Live, at which McGee, a trained yoga instructor, has delivered 'chair yoga' sessions to support delegates with their wellbeing during the two-day event.
Another practice leader honoured was Pier Pritchard, who recently retired from Wiltshire Council, where she served as a social work manager in children's services.
In a Facebook post, the council's chief executive, Lucy Pritchard, said: "With over 40 years of dedicated service, Pier has been a tireless advocate for safeguarding and family support in Wiltshire.
"Her leadership in pioneering initiatives like family group conferences, PAUSE, and the family drug and alcohol court has been vital in the success of our services and on behalf of everyone at the council I would like to congratulate Pier on receiving her well-deserved MBE."
Frontline social workers recognised
The list included two awards for serving frontline practitioners.Ben Chisanga, a social worker at Redcar and Cleveland council, was honoured with an MBE for services to unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. He was also recognised at the 2023 Social Worker of the Year Awards, where he was runner-up in the children's social worker category.
Also honoured was Islington council social worker Kenneth Atigah, whose British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to children and families followed him winning the prize for practice at the 2024 Frontline Awards.
Other social care honours
Others from the world of social care recognised included:- Anne Fenton, former home manager, Birmingham Children’s Trust, who was awarded an MBE for services to children with disabilities and their families;
- Claire Gilmore, head of service for reforms at Barnsley Council, who received an MBE for services to children, young people and the community in Barnsley;
- Carolyne Hague, principal occupational therapist, Devon County Council, and chair of the National Principal Occupational Therapist Network, who was given an MBE for services to occupational therapy in adult social care;
- John Jackson, former director of adult social services at Oxfordshire council and national care and health improvement adviser, finance and risks, at the Local Government Association, who was awarded an MBE for services to adult social care;
- Vicky Poole, former deputy chief inspector, Care Inspectorate Wales, who was recognised with an MBE for public service to social care;
- Stephen Barnett, director of care homes, The Royal British Legion, who received an MBE for services to veterans;
- Emmanuel Akpan-Inwang, founder and director of Lighthouse Pedagogy Trust, a children’s home provider, who was awarded a BEM for services to social enterprise and young people;
- John Meehan, residential county manager at Kent County Council, who was given a BEM for services to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
Social work academics recognised
Sector academics were also honoured, including Karen Broadhurst, professor of social work at Lancaster University, whose OBE recognised her services to child and family justice research.She founded the university's Centre for Child and Family Justice Research in 2015 and her research has included highlighting parents' vulnerability to repeat care cases and the scale of proceedings involving babies and young infants.
Commenting on her honour, she said: “It is a privilege and reflects not only my work, but also the tireless commitment and collaboration of many colleagues, practitioners, and families with whom I have worked over the years.
“Our shared efforts to improve justice and care for children and families engaged with public services and the family justice system are more important than ever."
Also awarded an OBE was Lucie Cluver, professor of child and family social work at Oxford University, who was recognised for services to children’s wellbeing and to global public health.
Formerly a social worker in South Africa, her work has focused on improving the lives of children and families in Sub-Saharan Africa in relation to issues including HIV/AIDS, sexual exploitation, family violence and the impact of Covid-19.
Co-production champion recognised
A champion for co-production and the voices of people with lived experience of social care was also honoured with an OBE.Isaac Samuels, co-chair of the partnership board of Think Local Act Personal, the sector coalition geared towards promoting personalisation, and of its National Co-production Advisory Group (NCAG), was recognised for services for adult social care.
Samuels, who is also a trustee of the Social Care Institute for Excellence, said: "This award is not just for me, it’s for every person whose voice has been marginalised or silenced, and for every community fighting for dignity, fairness, and equity.
"My lived experience has taught me that the best solutions come from those who have faced the greatest challenges."
Foster carer awards
There was also recognition for foster carers' service to looked-after children. Honoured this year were:- Anita Barnard, Redcar and Cleveland council, who was awarded an MBE;
- Elisabeth and Gavin Brownlees, Birmingham Children’s Trust (BEM);
- Linda Gainey, Wiltshire Council (BEM);
- Peter and Rebecca Homewood, Bexley council (BEM).
