Social Worker of the Year Awards
We’re delighted to be able to celebrate having two Team Fostering members of staff as finalists in the Social Worker of the Year awards.
Team manager Sue and Supervising Social Worker Steve are both up for the Lifetime Achievement Award and will find out if they’ve won at a ceremony on 17th October.
Steve
Steve has been part of the Team Fostering family for 15 years and we can only describe him as a dedicated, humble, and deeply respected Social Worker, who has spent his life committed to supporting children, young people, and foster carers.
He consistently goes above and beyond – delivering far more than is expected of a social worker – and his foster carers all speak of their admiration and gratitude for his professionalism but also the genuine care he brings to each relationship.
Whether it’s arranging visits outside of usual working hours to ensure new children are well supported, or simply being a calm, reliable presence for those carers and children who have longer stretching relationships with him, Steve is always there when it counts.
He might have spent 15 years with us, but his career began back in 1989. Alongside his years in social work in various different settings, Steve and his wife also experienced fostering first hand, providing short term breaks to a young child with multiple and complex disabilities.
Throughout his career Steve’s main focus has been about achieving positive outcomes for children and their families. He’s made a significant contribution to shaping services for disabled children and we’re really proud to have him as part of our team.
One of Steve’s foster carers said: “What truly stands out is the genuine bond he has built with all the children in placement. He takes the time to get to know each child individually, listening to them with patience and making them feel seen and valued.
“On several occasions, I’ve seen how his calm, consistent presence has helped children open up and feel more secure. His dedication goes beyond professional duty—he truly cares, and that has made a lasting positive impact on both the children and ourselves as a carers.”
Sue
Sue qualified as a social worker back in 2000 but before that was involved in community and youth work, working as part of a project supporting mothers with learning disabilities to help care for their children as well as child protection work.
She has a wealth of experience in social work and has worked within a variety of settings across areas of safeguarding, fostering and adoption and her experience is very much embedded in her practice.
She’s been with Team Fostering for the past five years, managing our supervising social workers and looking after our foster carers in the Yorkshire region.
Throughout her career, Sue has been driven by her commitment for ensuring that children and families receive a fair and equal service and are provided with opportunities to develop and thrive.
She also understands what it’s like first hand, having been a foster carer and a shared lives carer herself.
Her approach enables carers to feel valued and part of a team, and she has an inclusive approach to her role as a manager.
This is an impressive balance as Sue recognises her responsibilities as a manager, the conflict that this can bring but she demonstrates mutual respect for both aspects, enabling a united and trusting environment.
Registered Manager for the Yorkshire and East Midlands region, Jubilee Chikosi said, ”Sue’s impact is both far reaching and deeply personal. Her ability to navigate complex situations, manage risk with sound judgment, and support children, families, and colleagues with unwavering compassion sets her apart as a leader of remarkable calibre.
“Sue’s relationship based approach is the foundation of her practice; she builds trust, has open communication, and empowers those around her to achieve their best. Her steadfast commitment to our agency’s mission and values has earned her the respect and admiration of staff, foster carers, and management alike.”
We wish both of them the best of luck on 17th October. If you’d like to enquire about joining our not-for-profit agency where we think our staff are the best, fill in the online form here or give us a call on 0800292 2003.