Council celebrates social workers during Social Work Week

Cheshire West and Chester Council has celebrated the hard work of social workers during Social Work England’s national Social Work Week.

Social Work Week took place between 14th – 18th March and aims to highlight the hard work and dedication of social workers across the country.

Over the last few years, during the COVID-19 pandemic, social workers alongside the Council’s wider social care workforce in Children and Adults’ Services, have stepped up and, under challenging and never before experienced circumstances, continued to provide exceptional service to the children, families and adults that rely on them for support.

Throughout the week, social work teams across the Council created artwork using handprints and their thoughts on what social work means to them. The artwork will be displayed within council buildings as a reminder of the importance of the work that social workers do.

Councillor Robert Cernik, Cabinet Member for Children and Families said: “Early on during the COVID-19 pandemic, social work teams switched some of their work to virtual support keeping that vital link open with our most vulnerable children and adults when they needed it the most. Home visits continued, where needed, and staff adapted to ensure that the latest COVID-19 guidance was being followed to protect both themselves, their colleagues and the residents they were supporting.

“The past few years have been hard for everyone but as a front-line service, the Council’s social care workforce has been at the heart of the community, providing the vital support that residents need to ensure they remain safe and secure, whether in their own home or if they are in the Council’s care. This hard work has also been positively recognised by the Council’s recent Ofsted visit to our Children and Families Service.

“Thank you to all of our Council social workers, wider social care workforce and social workers across the borough for their continuous hard work and dedication – it has been extremely inspiring to see.”

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “I am so proud of all of our social workers and the wider teams working alongside them. They are an inspiration. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic they have continued to get out to people, changing their lives as part of their crucial work.

“They’ve had to navigate various challenges due to the pandemic, including coming up with creative ways to adapt their working practices in order to still be able to support people. They have remained at the heart of the community, making a huge difference to people’s lives. For that, we are truly grateful.

“I also want to thank all those working in our wider adults service for their hard work and dedication throughout this time. Without them, our social workers could not do what they do.”

Pictured - From left, Gemma Gerrish - Head of Children’s Social Care, Helen Brackenbury - Director of Children and Families, Kate – Social Worker, Leanne – Social Worker and Louise – Senior Practice Lead, with some of the artwork made to mark Social Work Week.