Loughburian Scoops Top National Award

Clare Burnett (née Wynn, LHS 1997), Chair of the Loughburians’ Alumni Association Committee and a social worker from Cafcass (the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) has been named ‘Newly Qualified Children’s Social Worker of the Year’. Clare won the award at the Social Worker of the Year Awards in London on 3 November. 

The Awards celebrate social work and promote positive stories from the profession with a variety of awards open to qualified practitioners throughout England ranging from individual and team categories for those working in both children’s and adult departments. 

Clare was recognised for her complex workload which sees dozens of families and children at the centre of issues such as stepparent adoption, surrogacy and discharge of care orders as well as her passion about parental alienating behaviours (the topic on which she chose to write her master’s degree dissertation), and was an ambassador of the Cafcass Child Impact Assessment Framework throughout her studies.  

Clare has proven herself to be a competent presenter, someone who participates fully in practice hubs, and who has had three files audited, with all work being graded as ‘good’. Clare’s impact on families is clear who have reported with great enthusiasm that Clare is able to assess situations fully and provide children with a much-needed voice. She is calm under pressure, puts everyone at ease, and is eager to promote the world of social work at all times. 

Upon winning the award, Clare said “Honestly, I feel like I am just doing my job. I love what I do, and to be recognised for it tells me, ‘I made the right career change. I did the right thing.’ Social workers get a lot of bad press, so to actually celebrate the good work that we do and to share the good of what we get up to is really important.”  

Peter Hay CBE, Chair of Trustees for the Social Worker of the Year Awards, said “The Awards celebrate the very best of social work. We are so proud of everyone’s achievements. This year we received the most entries ever, over 500, which goes to show organisations and individuals are keen to shine a light on the inspirational achievements of an often-overlooked profession. Well done to every one of our finalists and thank you to our sponsors for supporting the Awards.” 

Congratulations Clare!