The Minister spoke as he presented three key awards recognising outstanding achievements in good social work practice.
The awards are made by the Northern Ireland Association of Social Workers (NIASW), to individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to social work in their area of expertise. This year the areas of practice the awards have recognised include residential child care, sensory impairment, fostering and adoption, work with older people and professional training.
Mr McGimpsey said: "Social workers provide care, support and protection to thousands of people in Northern Ireland every day. People who may be experiencing neglect, abuse, exploitation, family breakdown or bereavement. People who may be socially isolated, homeless, in poor health or have a physical or sensory disability, they all need the skills and care provided by our social workers, in what are often very challenging circumstances.
"Therefore I am delighted to be able to present these awards for outstanding achievement to the winners here today. Their dedication and commitment has made a significant impact to social work in their respective fields in Northern Ireland. The range and scope of social work practice is considerable and that diversity is recognised in the range of areas of practice reflected in the awards being made here today."
The NIASW 2010 winners are:
- Individual award – Layne Walker, Northern Health and Social Care Trust
- Team award – Sensory Support Services team, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust
- Lifetime achievement awards – Faith Gibson, Greg Kelly and Stephanie Irwin
Mr McGimpsey presented the awards at Parliament Buildings at an event in which NIASW celebrated World Social Work Day.
Notes to editors:
- The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) is the professional association representing social work and social workers in the UK. BASW is recognised throughout the UK and contributes to social policy development regionally, nationally and internationally. NIASW is the Northern Ireland branch of the BASW.
- Three award categories: individual, team or service and lifetime achievement. It is the 40th anniversary of BASW and NIASW is making three lifetime achievement awards to recognise the recipients contribution to social work and also to the professional association.
- Individual award – Layne Walker. The award is made for Mr Walker’s outstanding contribution to Residential Child Care in the Northern Trust, providing leadership and direction in challenging situations and for introducing new and innovative approaches such as the new care model need led approach in caring for children.
- Team/service award – South Eastern HSC Trust Sensory Support team. The award is made in recognition of innovative approaches to service improvement which has ensured staff involvement and ownership and resulted in measurable differences for service users. The sensory support service has two dedicated teams providing services to children, adults and older people who have visual and/or hearing impairments. The award was accepted by team leaders, Clare McStay and Roisin O’Neill.
- Lifetime achievement award – Faith Gibson, Dr Greg Kelly and Stephanie Irwin. The award is made in recognition of long service and commitment to social work in Northern Ireland. Dr Kelly is an academic and expert in social work education and was also responsible for setting up the British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) in Northern Ireland. Miss Irwin is a former Director of Social Services in the Northern Board area, and Ms Gibson is an Emeritus Professor of Social Work, University of Ulster and expert in reminiscence work with older people.
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