Liverpool City Council’s Children and Young People’s Services and its partners have scooped prizes in a magnificent seven out of 16 categories, at an NSPCC awards ceremony.
The national Graded Care Profile 2 recognition awards recognise excellent practice to support vulnerable children and families and are testament to the hard work and dedication staff and colleagues have shown.
At a virtual ceremony, the following outstanding professionals were honoured:
- Jeanette McDonald, Schools Family Support Worker, LCC
- Kara Bate, Outreach Family Support Worker, South Early Help Hub, LCC
- Paula Carroll, Family Support Worker, Early Help, LCC
- Nicky Walsh, Practice Lead, Liverpool Safeguarding Children Partnership, LCC
- Angela D’Annunzio, Service Manager, and the whole of the Family Support Team – the first time ever, a whole team has been recognised in this way.
Two more inspirational professionals from partner organisations in Liverpool also won awards:
- Sharon Grace, Health Visitor Team Leader, Mersey Care
- Kath Davies, Inclusion Manager, Windsor Community Primary School, Toxteth
Liverpool FC legend Steven Gerrard was on hand with a specially recorded message of congratulations at the ceremony.
In 2019, Liverpool City Council unveiled an unprecedented two year, £7.7 million investment in Children’s Services, to recruit more staff, cut caseloads, expand the Family Support Service and provide better training and mentoring for our valued social care workforce.
The Graded Care Profile 2 was adopted as an innovative assessment tool to help professionals work on strategies to better support families. It has been rolled out across the council’s children’s social care workforce, with intensive training provided to teams over the last two years.
Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Lynnie Hinnigan, said: “Congratulations to our brilliant Children’s Services staff – what a massive achievement! It shows Liverpool leading the way when it comes to protecting and supporting vulnerable children and families. The council has heavily invested in our Children’s Services to have exactly this effect. It’s wonderful our staff are getting the recognition they deserve and a proud day for us all.”
Service manager, Angela D’Annunzio, said: “Nicky Walsh, Kate Bright, managers and staff across Children’s Services have worked extremely hard to embed the GCP2 tool within everyday working practices. Many of the families we work with like the approach and, more importantly, it helps them better understand the progress they’re making with us to address concerns. This recognition couldn’t have come at a better time – we are all delighted and extremely proud.”
Director of Children and Young People’s Services, Steve Reddy, said: “The work our Children’s staff do, alongside our partners, to protect and support families goes largely unnoticed by the public. They’re on the frontline, day in, day out, working in incredibly demanding and difficult circumstances. So it’s fantastic to see so many amazing colleagues and partners win big at these awards. A huge well done and thank you from me and the rest of the Children’s management team.”
