'She stepped in at a time when I was struggling with confid

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, student social worker Fatima Shafique celebrates her teacher specialist practitioner, Clare Hall-Matthews, for helping her gain back her confidence after a placement suddently broke down.

I would like to nominate Clare for the outstanding support she provided me with during a particularly difficult period in my social work journey.

After my previous placement was unexpectedly stopped, I felt disheartened and unsure of my abilities. Clare stepped in at a time when I was struggling with confidence and direction.

She not only reassured me but also helped me rebuild my self-belief and reminded me of my potential. Clare created a safe and supportive space where I felt heard and valued, and she consistently encouraged me to keep going, even when I doubted myself.

Her guidance was both practical and empowering - she helped me reflect on my experiences, identify my strengths and approach new challenges with a renewed mindset.

Clare's compassion, patience and belief in me made a huge difference, and I genuinely don't think I would have regained my confidence without her.

She embodies the values of social work and is a true role model.

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.