Social Work staff honoured at annual awards ceremony
Friday, November 17 2006
More than 120 Social Work staff and foster carers have been honoured for achieving professional qualifications in the past year.
At a special awards ceremony in the Dryburgh Abbey Hotel, St Boswells, recently, local MSP Euan Robson presented the successful candidates with certificates, and congratulated each individually. Scottish Borders Councillor Sandy Scott and Andrew Lowe, SBC Director of Social Work, commended them all for their hard work and dedication.
The awards included Scottish Vocational Qualifications(SVQs) in Health and Social Care, Management and Administration; Higher National Certificates (HNCs) in social care; and European Computer Driving Licences.
Four staff completed Diplomas in Social Work from the Open University through the Department’s internal training scheme, and a financial officer gained a BA in Business and Acounting Heriot Watt University.
There was one Certificate in Public Service Management from Stirling University and Certificates in Child Protection Studies from Dundee University.
Three care assistants completed nine-month 'Return to Learn' courses for people resuming further education. The course covered studying, writing, research and dealing with figures.
The ceremony was introduced by Councillor Sandy Scott, SBC Joint Executive Spokesman for Social Work. He said afterwards, "I was deeply impressed at the large number of Social Work staff who had managed to complete demanding course work and exams on top of their everyday jobs. The wide range of courses undertaken was also remarkable. It is a tribute to Scottish Borders Council’s management culture that staff are encouraged to improve their prospects and broaden their experience through further and higher education."
Bill Sim, SBC’s Workforce Planning & Development Manager, explained, "One of our major priorities is to develop and train social workers and social care workers so that they can provide top-quality services to users and carers. Achieving a qualification of this kind demands a real commitment to personal and professional development. Much of the study has to be completed in personal time, on top of a normal workload, and at times the pressure must be enormous. But all these staff have shown that they have the ability, the determination and the strength of character to succeed, and we wish them all the very best with their futures."
In his presentation speech, Euan Robson reminded staff how much their work is appreciated by service users and their families. He urged workers and carers to "talk up what you do" at every opportunity.
Unified Solutions.