New Children’s Services award introduced to Scottish Social Services Awards

Nominations are being invited for the Scottish Social Services Awards, which features a new award to recognise excellence in Children’s Services and mark 2018 being the Year of Young People.

Introduced last year, the Scottish Social Services Awards aim to celebrate excellence and bring one of the country’s largest sectors, with almost 200,000 workers, together. 

This year, the special policy focus award encourages entries from those working in Children’s Services who play a crucial role in helping disadvantaged young people realise their potential and get the best start in life.  Entries for this award will be judged by a panel of young people who use, or have accessed, children’s services.

The other usual categories are back, designed to acknowledge innovation, joined up thinking and recognise people and organisations which help vulnerable people. The awards are distinguished by the unique categories which encourage nominations for those with the courage to take a risk, who stick their head above the parapet and the bright sparks of the future.

Minister for Childcare and Early Years, Maree Todd, said: “We’re proud to support the Scottish Social Services Awards – it is an excellent opportunity to highlight the work of dedicated people who work across social services. By the very nature of their profession, many people and organisations who work in the sector go the extra mile for service users, so the finalists will be made up of a very impressive list.

“It’s also great to see the new category on Children’s Services will be judged by young people with experience of these services – an excellent choice as we approach 2018, the Year of Young People.”

The countdown is on to enter the 2018 awards before the deadline on 31 January 2018. Individual, teams and organisations working across social services can enter online at www.sssa.scot where there are also helpful hints and tips and films of previous winners to help people make their own submission. Anyone registered with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) or working for an organisation registered with the Care Inspectorate can enter.

Finalists will be announced on 19 March 2018 and invited to an awards ceremony taking place at Mansfield Traquair in Edinburgh on 6 June 2018.