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 Naomi E pays tribute to John Oke, a fellow practitioner who helped her settle in when she was transitioning from a children's to an adults' team
Dear John Oke,
I want to take a moment to celebrate you for the incredible support you have given to me and other team members.
I remember how overwhelmed I felt when I transitioned from children's services to the adults' team. But you were there every step of the way, offering guidance, reassurance and patience.
Without you, I would have struggled to settle in and find my place within the team.
You have continued to be a trusted sounding board, someone I can turn to for advice, clarity and practical advice. You consistently go out of your way to support colleagues, and your kindness, wisdom and generosity make our team stronger and more connected.
Thank you, John, for all that you do!
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.
