An adult social worker based at Charlton Lane Hospital has been shortlisted in the annual Social Worker of the Year Awards which recognises extraordinary social work practice.
Lauren Warner, a senior social worker in Gloucestershire county council’s Adult Social Care Hospital Discharge and Assessment Team has been selected as a finalist for ‘Adult Social Worker of the Year’ in the Social Worker of the Year Awards 2024.
The ‘Adult Social Worker of the Year’ award is to recognise those social workers who have made a positive impact through their outstanding work with adults. Lauren is one of five finalists in this category and will find out if she has won at a special awards ceremony in London this November.
Lauren was nominated by her manager for her ability to develop and maintain strong and supportive working relationships with health colleagues. This positive joint working with partners has enabled her to engage with the most appropriate services, leading to better outcomes for individuals she supports.
Lauren never stops championing the people and families that she works with whilst recognising them as experts in their own lives. She values each person as an individual, taking time to really get to know their situation so she can work in partnership with them.
She works tirelessly to support her colleagues to develop their skillset and overall social work practice, acting as a role model within her team and also as a mentor to both apprentice and student social workers. Most recently, Lauren has been involved in research into trauma-informed social work which she is planning to publish, with the aim of creating a model for more effective and sensitive practice with adults in Gloucestershire.
Lauren said: “I’m extremely honoured to be shortlisted for an Adult Social Worker of the Year award. I love working at Charlton Lane as part of the Hospital Discharge and Assessment Team, and consider myself very fortunate to be a part of such a brilliant team with lovely and supportive colleagues from both health and Adult Social Care.”
Cllr Stephan Fifield, cabinet member for adult social care delivery at Gloucestershire County Council said: “I am delighted that one of our fantastic social workers has been shortlisted in the Social Worker of the Year awards, it is wonderful to see Lauren recognised at a national level alongside her peers.”
“The award recognises Lauren’s dedication and commitment to supporting adults with a mental health condition to receive the best possible care whether that is in hospital or at home.
“It is inspirational to see the difference she makes to the individuals and families she works with, together with her support for colleagues and partners. I wish her the best of luck.”
Peter Hay CBE, Chair of the Social Work Awards, said: “This year we received hundreds of entries which goes to show how passionate organisations and individuals are to shine a light on the inspirational achievements of an often-overlooked profession.
“We would like to thank all those who took the time to nominate a friend, colleague, or team for an award this year. To our finalists, we’d like to say congratulations! Being nominated for a national award, whilst supporting others during very challenging times in a year of big changes, is a remarkable achievement of which you should be very proud.”
For more information about the awards, please visit www.socialworkawards.com
