By Ninder Kaur
Sylvana Keenan, a children’s social worker at Bradford Council, has been nominated for a national award for her hard work, commitment and enthusiasm.
Sylvana has been nominated in the Children’s Social Worker of the Year category of the National Social Worker of the Year Awards 2015 and will attend the awards ceremony in London on 27 November.
Sylvana is based in Bradford’s Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Hub, a multi agency base which
works to reduce the risks of CSE and to bring offenders to justice. She is in a team including West Yorkshire Police and Barnardos, Placement Support, Hand in Hand and Blast to identify young people at risk of sexual exploitation and find ways to reduce this risk. She also provides training to social workers, health professionals, schools and other agencies on understanding CSE and how to identify those at risk.
Jill Hudson, CSE Hub Manager, said: “The main reason Sylvana was nominated was her commitment, tenacity, passion and determination to ‘get it right’ for the young people and their families.
“She often works late into the evenings and on occasions, weekends. However, despite this, she always smiles and is ready to assist. She goes above and beyond her social work role and is well-respected by her colleagues and children and young people alike.”
Coun Ralph Berry, Executive Member for Social Care, said: “Sylvana is a committed and dedicated social worker, who regularly goes the extra mile. Her nomination for this award is well-deserved.”
The awards are judged by Chief Social workers Isabelle Trowler and Lyn Romeo and Maris Stratulis who is England Manager of the British Association of Social Workers. Sponsors include Sanctuary Social Care, the British Association of Social Workers, UNISON, NSPCC, Core Assets,
iMPOWER, Local Government Association, ECL: The Care & Wellbeing Company, Barnardos, Kenty County Council, Hampshire County Council and Devon County Council.