“Diversity is the norm in nature. Being part of a minority is being part of the whole.” Meet the Social Justice Advocate & Overall Social Worker of the Year 2021!
I feel honoured to be the double award winner from this week’s National Social work Award. I still can’t believe it!!! I cannot believe that I was named the winner of the Social Justice Advocate Award and the Overall Social Worker of the Year 2021. Double Award Winner! It has a very good ring to it! The second award was a total knock out! Completely unexpected! I still cannot believe that I emerged as the Overall winner among 52 shortlisted finalists and from reportedly hundreds who were nominated for this year’s awards. The headache I woke up with the next morning was evidence of how much I screamed with joy the night before.
I want to express much thanks to the WSCC Leadership and Management Team for their support. Proud to be part of a Department and a Local Authority that is driving change in the right direction. A special thanks to the WSCC Principal Social Worker for flagging me up for the nomination of the Social Justice Advocate award on behalf of West Sussex Children’s Services. A good Leader not only identifies and nurtures talent but will flags it up and ensures that it is rewarded accordingly. In so doing, the Staff feels motivated to continue working hard and others around are also encouraged to continue working hard. A well motivated workforce go on to achieve positive outcomes.
Thank you to the Social Work Awards Body for this honour and for creating this award to recognise the amazing humanitarian work that Social Workers do. Well done and best wishes to all Finalists, I feel we are all winners! Social Work is a career like no other! The focus of the career is to promote social change, social justice, anti-oppressive and anti – discriminatory practice. This is what Social Workers sign up for. To be named a Social Justice Advocate means that it is recognised and acknowledged that I am actually carrying out the expectations of the Profession. I am indeed humbled… Vivian Okeze – Tirado.