Hull Social Worker Shortlisted for Top National Award

One of our colleages, Elvis, a Social Worker based in mental health settings across Hull and the East Riding, has been nominated for the prestigious Social Worker of the Year Awards in recognition of his extraordinary practice.  

As part of our mental health teams, Elvis has been selected as a finalist for the Mental Health Social Worker of the Year category.

Elvis moved to the UK from South Africa in 2004, qualifying as a social worker after completing a BA Degree in Criminology, while working shifts as a Health Care Assistant within local NHS services. His first social work job sent him working right across Yorkshire, for both the local authorities and the NHS.

In his day-to-day work, Elvis supports people with complex mental health needs. As an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) and Advanced Practitioner in Social Work, he carries out the role of mental health inpatient social worker and demonstrates the value of social work in health environments led by medical staff and health professionals.

Elvis was nominated and endorsed by his peers, as his contribution has had a positive impact upon our services, this includes taking on work that others may find challenging, such as supporting those with mental health needs related to grief and bereavement.

Elvis plays a key role in providing support and interventions to those who need it, and his colleagues describe him as a passionate and experienced individual, whose role has been pivotal in the development of an inpatient social work hub, which now employs a team of social workers with a variety of skills, to work across inpatient teams in Hull and the East Riding.

Elvis is one of five finalists in the Mental Health Social Worker of the Year category and will join his fellow nominees in London, on Friday 4 November, for a special awards ceremony.

Supported by S12 Solutions, the Mental Health Social Worker of the Year award recognises qualified social workers who have made a positive impact through their outstanding work with children or adults.

Jenni Jordan, Modern Matron Adult Mental Health Inpatient Services, Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“Since Elvis has joined the inpatient team, he has consistently been driven to provide better outcomes for our service users. He has passionately undertaken work to increase options for service users to have alternatives to hospital admissions. In doing so, he has enhanced the relationships the Trust has with a range of mental health service providers, in particular the voluntary sector.

We are thrilled to see Elvis has been shortlisted for the Mental Health Social Worker of the Year Award, it is truly so well deserved.”

Peter Hay CBE, Chair of the Social Work Awards, said:

“We are delighted with the fantastic entries received this year. As a charity, our aim is to shine a light on the inspirational achievements of an often-overlooked profession. Thank you to all the people who took the time out of their day to nominate a friend, colleague, or team for an award this year. And, to all our finalists, congratulations! Being nominated for a national award, whilst supporting others during very challenging times, is a remarkable achievement of which you should be very proud.”

For more information about the awards, visit www.socialworkawards.com