Social Worker Awards 2021
West Sussex social worker Vivian Okeze-Tirado has been named Overall Social Worker of the Year 2021 at the national awards.
Vivian was also awarded the Social Justice Advocate of the Year gold award before being named overall winner at the 2021 Social Worker of the Year Awards, which celebrated the very best achievements of social workers in the country.
Vivian is an Advanced Social Worker for West Sussex County Council, doing work to support, train and supervise West Sussex foster carers and other social workers. She was nominated for the Social Justice Advocate of the Year award for pioneering new Black Lives Matter, Diversity and Cultural Competence workshops for County Council staff and managers.
Vivian and Jaquie
Vivian said: “I want to express my thanks to the entire leadership and management team at West Sussex County Council for their support. I am proud to be part of a Children, Young People and Learning department and local authority that is driving change in the right direction.
“Thank you so much to the Social Work Awards for this honour and for creating this award to recognise the amazing humanitarian work that social workers do.”
Jacquie Russell, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “I am immensely proud of Vivian’s outstanding achievements, which bear clear testimony to her passion and dedication to her role in what is a very complex and challenging area of expertise.
“It is also both timely and inspiring for the entire Children, Young People and Learning department as we continue on our journey of improvement. Vivian’s success is a beacon of inspiration to us all. It will without doubt contribute to our ongoing resolve to strive to be the best.”
Opportunities in West Sussex
Find out about opportunities currently available on the careers in children’s social work webpages.
