'You've inspired so many social workers and made children's

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, children's social worker Karen Russell celebrates her former team leader, Angela Lynch, highlighting her work during the pandemic in supporting both practitioners and families. Angela retired early in 2023 due to multiple system atrophy (MSA), a rare neurological disorder caused by a loss of nerve cells in the brain.

Dear Angela,

You inspired so many during your time as team leader at Midlothian Council.

During the pandemic, you led and supported your team through a difficult and scary time. You encouraged us to look after ourselves so we could do our best for the children and families we worked with.

Your creativity also shone throughout. You arranged that we get t-shirts printed with rainbows and the hashtag 'kindness Midlothian' so that children were less frightened when they met us for the first time while wearing masks. Under your guidance, we even began delivering art supplies to families who were isolating.

You inspired so many social workers during your career and made the lives of children and families palpably better.

Even after going on early medical retirement and ending your wonderful career with us, you have gone on to inspire so many others facing daily struggles with MSA.

Angela, you are the strongest, most intelligent and kindest person I know.

Thank you for showing me the way.

Karen

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.