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 worker Adeyline 'Ady' Dzumbira has been nominated by children's social worker Chido Mutiri, who described her as a compassionate leader who's built a "supportive community" for overseas practitioners starting out in practice in the UK.
'She went the extra mile to make me feel connected to my home country'
Adeyline Dzumbira, affectionately known as Ady, is an incredible social worker who made a lasting impact on my life.As a children's social worker, Ady demonstrated exceptional skill and compassion, and her dedication to her work was truly inspiring. Her warm smile and infectious laughter could light up even the toughest of days, while her calm and collected demeanor made her an excellent listener.
As a colleague, I had the privilege of learning from Ady's expertise and witnessing her ability to navigate complex cases with ease. She played a significant role in shaping me into a competent social worker, and I'm grateful for the guidance and support she provided.
Ady's initiative to form a group for international new starters was a testament to her kindness and commitment to building a supportive community. Her motivational quotes and regular check-ins kept me going during difficult times, and the get-togethers at her place became a highlight of my week.
Ady even went the extra mile to make me feel connected to my home country, by cooking and sharing African dishes at work.
Though she's moved to another council, I'm grateful for the time we had together. I wish her all the best in her future endeavors. Her new council is lucky to have her, and I'm confident she'll continue to make a positive impact.
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.
