FIVE social workers from Wiltshire have been shortlisted for prestigious awards in recognition of their outstanding work in supporting children and families.

Tomorrow night (July 28) Pier Pritchard, Charlene Handyside, Lydia Campbell, Kelly Hogan and Kate Farrar will find out if they have won at the annual Social Worker of the Year awards.

All five work for Wiltshire Council and have all been selected as finalists for Children’s Social Worker of the Year.

They will find out if they have won at a national awards ceremony which will take place in Birmingham.

The awards are organised by The Social Work Awards charity, which aims to improve public awareness and understanding of social work by showing the positive impact of social workers in the wide range of roles they undertake.

The social workers shortlisted are:

  • Pier Pritchard for her long service to social work
  • Kate Farrar for her work with Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC)
  • Kelly Hogan for her child protection social work
  • The Support and Safeguarding Team South represented by Charlene Handyside and Lydia Campbell.

Cabinet member for children’s services, Laura Mayes said: “We are immensely proud of our social workers; they are dedicated and passionate about their work and have spent many years supporting families and children through challenging periods in their lives.

“Pier, Charlene, Lydia, Kelly and Kate represent all Wiltshire social workers and we are thrilled they have been shortlisted for children’s social worker of the year award and whatever the outcome they deserve the celebration.”