Shropshire social worker crowned ‘Team Leader of the Year’ at national awards

Sue Bunker, who works for Shropshire Council, was awarded Team Leader of the Year for Adult Services at a celebration event for social workers in London on Friday, 8 November. 

The Social Worker of the Year awards were established in 2006 by independent social work practitioner, Beverley Williams MBE. The Awards celebrate social work and promote positive stories from the profession. 

Each award category is judged by an independent panel of social workers, people with lived experience, and senior figures from the world of social work. 

In flood-hit Shrewsbury, Sue developed strong relationships with local agencies and has often been the first to respond to individuals in crisis. She actively supports her practitioners out in the field and has regularly spent hours ensuring vulnerable residents have the care they need. 

Within the council, Sue was last year asked to step in and unite a struggling team, which was based across two different locations and facing significant cultural issues. Implementing changes around efficiency and responsibility, Sue helped the staff to recognise the value of operating as one. She was successful in bringing them together and this has led to improvements in absence, performance and relationships.  

Sue has also recently piloted a community re-ablement project, which used technology and a multiagency approach with OTs to support individuals to remain independent.  Sue was credited by her service manager as a social worker with a “wonderful personality and demeanour” who sees the best in everyone and invests herself in all that she does.  

Upon winning her award, Sue said: “I’m totally overwhelmed. This is award is for all my colleagues and team members who support me so this really means a lot. Social work is an amazing profession and we don’t get the recognition that we deserve so winning an award like this is truly wonderful.”