A SOCIAL worker from Bradford who won a top prize at the 2018 Social Worker of the Year Awards has celebrated her success at an exclusive Parliamentary Reception in the House of Commons on Monday.

Karen Maude, who works at Bradford College, was named the winner of the Practice Educator of the Year award at the prestigious national awards ceremony in November.

Secretary of State for Education, The Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP; Minister of State for Care, Caroline Dinenage MP; and Chief Social Worker for Children and Families, Isabelle Trowler, all attended Monday's event to meet and congratulate Ms Maude and the other award winners.

The event was also attended by the Patrons of the Social Work Awards charity, including Tim Loughton MP; Shadow Children’s Minister, Emma Lewell-Buck MP and celebrity chef and government fostering ambassador Lorraine Pascale.

Speaking at the event, Ms Maude said: “It’s been an amazing experience coming down to London from Yorkshire, really exciting.

"Social work is very important to me, I’ve been a Practice Educator for many years and it’s really important to get social work out there in the public eye.”

Ms Maude's social work career has spanned over 30 years and she has held several social work roles in a variety of settings.

In 2015 she became an independent Practice Educator and has since mentored and supported many students through their studies.

The Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP delivered a speech at Monday's event and he said: “Social workers do life changing things every day and not enough people think about that or reflect upon it often enough.

"Whether that’s supporting the most vulnerable adults or children who are often in extremely difficult circumstances, social workers shape whole communities and on a cumulative basis shape the whole of our society.

"Awards like these are so important at recognising the contribution that social workers make and it’s important that those of us in Government and in the media do more to elevate and celebrate what social workers do.”

Ms Maude’s award was supported by North Lincolnshire Council and Ann-Marie Brierley, Head of Safeguarding Children, said: “It was an honour to present Karen with her award at the ceremony in November and to see her achievements recognised today at the House of Commons.

"She clearly lives and breathes social work and is doing an amazing job in nurturing aspiring students into the profession.”