Stephanie Mills wins award at national ceremony

Stephanie Mills (centre) was presented with her award by James Rook from headline sponsor Sanctuary Social Care, and Sally Melbourne from award sponsor, Core Assets

Stephanie Mills, a social worker at Rochdale Borough Council, has received national recognition for her support of vulnerable children and young people after winning a top award at the Social Worker of the Year Awards.

Stephanie was named winner of the Newly Qualified Children’s Social Worker of the Year award during the national awards ceremony which took last Friday (27 November) in London.

Stephanie joined the council in September 2014 and impressed the judges with her confidence and ability in managing a series of complex cases that would have proved testing for any practitioner, let alone a newly qualified social worker. However, the panel said she has approached them all with enthusiasm, confidence and integrity.

In particular, Stephanie’s work with young people who were victims of sexual abuse stood out to the judges, with one of her clients describing her as “one of the best social workers you could ever have”.

Speaking just after she collected her award, Stephanie said: “It’s amazing to have won this award; I didn’t expect it at all. I’m just doing my job, so it’s really nice to be recognised on this scale. I just go and do my job every day and try my hardest, so I’m overwhelmed and humbled.”

Sally Melbourne, CEO Children’s Services at award sponsor, Core Assets, presented Stephanie with her award on the night. She said: “Stephanie is an outstanding winner. It’s brilliant to see a newly qualified social worker doing so well and she is showing great confidence, skills and potential. She is an asset to her organisation and to be described by a service user as ‘one of the best social workers you can ever have’ is remarkable.”

Stephanie was presented with her award in front of an audience of 370 social workers and representatives of the profession. The Social Worker of the Year Awards were founded in 2006 by independent practitioner, Beverley Williams, with the aim of improving the understanding and reputation of the profession.

The awards have been supported by headline sponsors Sanctuary Social Care; Corporate Partners, the British Association of Social Workers; and category supporters the NSPCC, Core Assets, iMPOWER, the Local Government Association, UNISON, Barnardo’s, Kent County Council, ECL: The Care & Wellbeing Company, Hampshire County Council and Devon County Council.