Celebrating the individuals, teams, and organisations making an extraordinary difference to the lives of children, young people, and families across the sector.
⭐ The Above & Beyond Team Award (Midlands)
🌟 Highly Commended – Families First Fostering
Families First Fostering is an exceptional team whose child-centred ethos, compassion, and dedication consistently go far beyond expectations. Their Outstanding Ofsted judgement reflects a service that creates safe, nurturing environments where children can heal, thrive, and achieve remarkable outcomes, while foster carers feel fully supported and valued every step of the way.
🏆 Winner – The Heyfields Team – Excel & Emerge Therapeutic Care Solutions
The Heyfields team has demonstrated exceptional growth, unity, and commitment over the past year, creating a nurturing environment where young people and staff can truly thrive. Through strong leadership, high standards, and a deeply child-centred approach, the team has transformed outcomes across the organisation, with Bille-Jo’s guidance playing a key role in inspiring excellence throughout.
⭐ The Above & Beyond Team Award (North)
🌟 Highly Commended – 23 Hart Street – Westmorland and Furness Council
The team at 23 Hart Street goes above and beyond every day to improve the lives of disabled children, young people, and families. Through community events, youth groups, communication support, and empowering young people to become inspectors of services, they have created a culture of inclusion, participation, and genuine care.
🏆 Winner – La Bungalow – Care Afloat
For more than 25 years, the team at La Bungalow has provided outstanding care and lasting support to vulnerable young people. Their dedication, experience, and commitment to helping children build positive futures has created life-changing outcomes, with many young people maintaining strong and meaningful relationships with the home long after leaving care.
⭐ The Above & Beyond Team Award (South)
🌟 Highly Commended – Ocean Lodge – Benecare Children’s Services
The team at Ocean Lodge provides unwavering care, stability, and compassion to young people during some of the most difficult times in their lives. Through resilience, kindness, and a deeply child-centred approach, they create an environment where children feel safe, valued, and hopeful about the future. Their dedication and willingness to go the extra mile make a lasting impact on every young person they support.
🏆 Winner – Higher Coombe Team – Blue Elephant Childcare
The Higher Coombe Team has created far more than a workplace – they have built a genuine community rooted in compassion, trust, and teamwork. Their unwavering commitment to supporting young people, alongside the warm and positive culture they create for staff and children alike, makes them truly deserving winners.
⭐ The Awesome Administrator Award
🌟 Highly Commended – Cheryl Firkins – Solace for Children
Cheryl is the person everyone relies on. Her calm, hardworking, and endlessly supportive approach keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes, and her professionalism, determination, and attention to detail make her an invaluable part of the Solace for Children team.
🏆 Winner – Isabelle Garnett White – VCare24
Isabelle is the driving force behind the smooth running of the VCare office, bringing professionalism, positivity, and efficiency to every aspect of her role. Her exceptional communication skills, reliability, and proactive attitude ensure staff, families, and professionals feel supported, connected, and valued.
⭐ The Commitment to Child Protection Award
🌟 Highly Commended – Kyle Riley – ISW CSC
Kyle consistently demonstrates exceptional commitment to safeguarding children, placing their welfare at the heart of every decision he makes. Through vigilance, professional curiosity, and compassionate practice, he creates safe environments where children feel heard, protected, and empowered.
🏆 Winner – Carmen Eardley – Crystal Care Solutions
Carmen’s dedication to protecting children and supporting staff is truly extraordinary. As a Designated Safeguarding Lead, she consistently prioritises the safety and wellbeing of young people, going above and beyond to provide support during crises, challenge poor practice, and advocate tirelessly for positive outcomes.
⭐ The Dedicated Director Award
🌟 Highly Commended – Lewis Halpin – Logic Care
Lewis Halpin has demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity, and commitment to children’s social care, always placing the needs of young people at the heart of every decision. Through his compassionate approach and dedication to high standards, he has created a culture where children feel safe and valued, while staff feel supported, respected, and empowered to provide outstanding care.
🏆 Winner – Tim Clare & Rob Clare – T-Junction Children’s Services
Tim and Rob Clare have built an organisation rooted in care, compassion, and opportunity for children and young people. Through their passion, resilience, and commitment to creating nurturing homes and memorable experiences, they have transformed lives while building a culture where both staff and young people can thrive.
⭐ The Exceptional Children and Families Social Worker Award
🌟 Highly Commended – Margaret Conway – Coventry City Council
Margaret’s remarkable 40-year career has transformed the lives of countless children, young people, and families. Through visionary leadership, innovation, and a deep commitment to early intervention, she has created services that continue to strengthen families and improve outcomes across Coventry.
🏆 Winner – Faye Kirby – Cafcass
Faye Kirby’s compassionate, trauma-informed approach has made a profound difference to vulnerable children and families navigating the family courts. Her ability to ensure children feel heard, safe, and understood, while delivering outstanding professional evidence, makes her an exceptional advocate for young people.
⭐ The Family & Community Support Team Award
🌟 Highly Commended – WASP Team, Kids Charity – Kids Charity
The Wakefield Autism Support Service Team has built a trusted and empowering support network for neurodivergent children and their families. Through compassion, co-production, and community-led support, they help families feel connected, understood, and equipped to thrive.
🏆 Winner – The Strengthening Families Team – Family Support and Intervention, Conwy Children’s Services
The Strengthening Families Team consistently goes above and beyond to support families through challenging circumstances with compassion, resilience, and professionalism. Their collaborative, child-centred approach empowers families to make meaningful changes while creating exceptional outcomes for children and young people.
⭐ The Fantastic Foster Carer Award
🌟 Highly Commended – Kate Ryan-Haynes & Linda Ryan-Haynes – Hope Fostering Services
Kate and Linda have opened both their home and hearts to more than 100 children and young people, providing safety, stability, and unconditional care. Their deeply child-centred approach and lifelong impact on the children they support make them truly exceptional foster carers.
🏆 Winner – Sara Garden – Hazel Project
Sara went above and beyond to become a foster carer for a young person she already supported therapeutically, ensuring he could remain in the area where he had built relationships, education, and stability. Her commitment, compassion, and determination have helped transform his future and support his journey toward independence.
⭐ The Great Marketeer Award
🌟 Highly Commended – Melissa Davenport – Northumberland
Melissa Davenport has completely transformed fostering recruitment across Northumberland through a bold, creative, and highly effective campaign that delivered exceptional results. Her innovative, data-led approach significantly increased engagement, enquiries, and approval rates while improving value for money and strengthening local fostering provision.
🏆 Winner – Samantha Downey – Welcare Global
Samantha is recognised for her creativity and passion in championing the social care sector. Through her work, she celebrates the achievements of staff and young people alike, helping to positively change perceptions of residential care while advocating for the industry with pride and authenticity.
⭐ The Inspirational Children’s Home Manager Award (North)
🌟 Highly Commended – Alina Pop – Montgomery Children’s Home
Alina Pop is an outstanding leader who consistently sets high standards while remaining approachable, compassionate, and supportive. She has fostered a positive, inclusive culture where staff feel valued, motivated, and confident, enabling them to deliver high-quality, child-centred care.
🏆 Winner – Lucas Finch – Underley Garden School
Lucas Finch has demonstrated exceptional commitment, going above and beyond every single day to secure appropriate, stable future placements for young people. During a particularly challenging and emotional period, he has remained a constant source of strength, maintaining staff morale and ensuring the team feels supported, focused, and resilient.
⭐ The Inspirational Children’s Home Manager Award (Midlands)
🌟 Highly Commended – Amy Powell – AspireOne Care
Amy Powell understands that exceptional care begins with a strong and connected team. She has invested in creating a culture built on trust, respect, and togetherness, organising team-building days and social events that strengthen relationships, improve morale, and ensure staff feel valued and supported in their roles.
🏆 Winner – Nina Kersho – Headway Care Services
Nina Kersho stands out for her deep understanding of trauma and her unwavering belief that every young person deserves the chance to rebuild their story. She consistently embeds a PACE-based, trauma-informed approach across her service, ensuring that practice is rooted in empathy, curiosity, acceptance, and respect.
⭐ The Inspirational Children’s Home Manager Award (South)
🌟 Highly Commended – Clara Nee-Davies – Orbis Education and Care
Clara Nee-Davies has redefined what it means to lead with heart, vision, and purpose. She has created far more than a home — she has built a vibrant, inclusive community where dignity, joy, and innovation are part of everyday life.
🏆 Winner – Stephanie Price – The Bristol Care Group
Stephanie Price is an exceptional children’s home manager whose leadership, compassion, and strong advocacy make her a truly deserving winner. She is widely recognised for creating a positive, empowering culture where both her team and the children she supports can thrive and succeed.
⭐ The Joy Maker Award
🌟 Highly Commended – Gemma Newsom – VCare-24
Gemma brings positivity, connection, and a true sense of family to the VCare team. Through organising events, supporting colleagues, and lifting morale, she creates a culture where people feel included, valued, and proud to be part of the organisation.
🏆 Winner – Gary Lough – Homes2Inspire
For more than 10 years, Gary has brought joy, laughter, and unforgettable experiences to both young people and staff. Whether organising holidays, supporting young people to achieve their potential, or creating a fun workplace environment, Gary’s impact is felt by everyone around him.
⭐ The Learning & Development Award
🌟 Highly Commended – Sebastian Quinn – Pink Pearl Consulting
Inspired by his own childhood experiences in foster care, Sebastian created the Pink Pearl Parent Academy to help foster carers better support children affected by trauma. Through innovative learning programmes and practical tools, he has empowered hundreds of carers and professionals to improve outcomes for children.
🏆 Winner – Hannah O’Dwyer – Lawrence House School – Quality Protects Children
Hannah’s dedication to education and learning has transformed opportunities for the students in her care. Through inspirational leadership, innovative teaching approaches, and an unwavering belief that “only the best is good enough”, she has helped young people achieve qualifications, confidence, and brighter futures.
⭐ The New to Care Award
🌟 Highly Commended – Aapti Krovvidi Venkata – Bridging Brains
At just sixteen years old, Aapti has shown exceptional commitment to supporting neurodivergent children and their families through her volunteering with Bridging Brains. Her empathy, patience, and positivity help create safe, inclusive, and nurturing environments where children feel encouraged and valued.
🏆 Winner – Mia Bhautoo Griffin – Exceptional Care
Despite being early in her career, Mia has already demonstrated remarkable professionalism, compassion, and dedication. Her strong relationships with young people, commitment to learning, and willingness to go above and beyond have made a significant and positive impact in a very short time.
⭐ The Outstanding Contribution to Children’s Services Award
🌟 Highly Commended – Thomas Grimmett-Mitchell – Helping Hands Care and Consultancy
Tom has made a remarkable contribution to children’s services through his passion for improving practice, empowering staff teams, and raising standards across the sector. His collaborative and child-centred approach has strengthened services, inspired professionals, and helped create better outcomes for children and young people.
🏆 Winner – Gaynor Harrison – Three Bridges Care
For more than 30 years, Gaynor has dedicated her career to transforming the lives of vulnerable children through compassionate leadership and trauma-informed practice. Her commitment to developing high-quality services and supporting children with complex needs has left a lasting impact across the sector.
⭐ The Recruitment & Retention Award
🌟 Highly Commended – Haseeb Zahrab – Haven Care Group
Haseeb has played a vital role in attracting, supporting, and retaining talented staff across the organisation. His approachable nature, commitment to staff wellbeing, and ability to create a positive and inclusive workplace culture have strengthened teams and improved outcomes for children and young people.
🏆 Winner – Helen Bickerton – Crystal Care Solutions
Helen has delivered outstanding recruitment performance, playing a vital role in improving workforce stability, reducing vacancies, and strengthening safer staffing across the organisation. Her professionalism, efficiency, and unwavering dedication have made a significant difference to both staff teams and operational success.
⭐ The Superb Support for Care Leavers Award
🌟 Highly Commended – Shafia Aziz – Welcare Global
Shafia is recognised for her tireless dedication to preparing young people for independence. Through practical guidance, emotional support, and genuine care, she empowers care leavers to move forward with confidence and feel supported during one of the most important transitions in their lives.
🏆 Winner – Thrive Support Services
Thrive Support Services transformed the life of a young person who had experienced criminal exploitation by building trust, creating opportunities, and supporting his journey into independence. Their belief, persistence, and non-judgemental approach helped him develop confidence, stability, and a brighter future.
⭐ The Exceptional Employer Award (Midlands & South)
🌟 Highly Commended – Bayleaf Care – Bayleaf Care
Bayleaf Care champions individuality, dignity, and opportunity for every child and young person they support. Through therapeutic environments, cultural inclusivity, and a strong commitment to advocacy, they create spaces where children feel safe, understood, and empowered to thrive.
🏆 Winner – Para Group – Para Group Holdings
Para Group has created a culture where staff feel trusted, valued, and empowered to grow. Through supportive leadership, genuine investment in people, and a strong focus on wellbeing and development, they have built confident teams that deliver exceptional care to children and young people.
⭐ The Exceptional Employer Award (North)
🌟 Highly Commended – Crystal Care Solutions – Crystal Care Solutions
Crystal Care Solutions is recognised for its unwavering commitment to both staff and young people. Through supportive leadership, opportunities for growth, and a strong focus on quality care, the organisation has created a culture where people feel valued, empowered, and inspired.
🏆 Winner – Grahams Consultants
Grahams Consultants is dedicated to improving outcomes for children and young people through compassionate leadership, expert guidance, and unwavering support for professionals across the sector. Their commitment to empowering the workforce and promoting excellence makes them a truly exceptional employer.
⭐ The Head of People Award
🌟 Highly Commended – Rachel McNair – Kids Charity
Rachel has played a pivotal role in shaping a positive, inclusive, and supportive workplace culture at KIDS. Through her commitment to staff wellbeing, flexible working, and compassionate leadership, she has created an environment where people feel valued, respected, and able to thrive.
🏆 Winner – Matt Potter – Insight Wellbeing Services
Matt Potter has brought energy, innovation, and real positive change to Insight Wellbeing Services. Through modernising recruitment and onboarding, improving systems, and strengthening workplace culture, he has helped create an organisation where both staff and services can thrive.
⭐ The Superstar Senior Support Worker Award
🌟 Highly Commended – Dec Penn – Lonsdale Care
Since joining a newly opened home, Dec has shown outstanding leadership, helping both staff and young people settle and thrive. His positivity, experience, and ability to create a supportive and fun environment have had a lasting impact on the whole team.
🏆 Winner – Haley Townend – Hollybank Trust
Haley consistently delivers exceptional care with compassion, professionalism, and clinical excellence. Her leadership, communication, and person-centred approach have significantly improved the wellbeing and quality of life of the children she supports.
⭐ The Superstar Support Worker Award (Midlands)
🌟 Highly Commended – Lauren Brooks – Witham Prospect School
Lauren is an exceptional advocate for young people, using both her lived experience and compassionate nature to support children to achieve their potential. Her dedication extends beyond her role, including fundraising and giving her own time to help others.
🏆 Winner – Hamid Fiaz – Haven Care Group
Hamid has shown remarkable dedication, resilience, and compassion since joining the team. His proactive approach, strong relationships with children, and determination to grow professionally have made him an invaluable support worker and role model.
⭐ The Superstar Support Worker Award (North)
🌟 Highly Commended – Curtis Harbord – CFS Care
Curtis has built strong and positive relationships with the young people he supports, helping to create a calm, nurturing, and stable environment within the home. His dedication, compassion, and reliability make him a highly valued member of the team.
🏆 Winner – Daniel Drabble – Quality Protects Children
Daniel consistently goes above and beyond to support children and young people through empathy, professionalism, and unwavering dedication. His ability to create safe and nurturing environments while advocating fiercely for young people makes him a truly deserving winner.
⭐ The Superstar Support Worker Award (South)
🌟 Highly Commended – Finlay Curling – Flourish (Gloucestershire) Ltd
Finlay Curling was highly commended for her outstanding dedication, compassion, and rapid progression within children’s social care. Through her creativity, initiative, and ability to build meaningful relationships with young people, she has made a lasting impact on both the home and the wider team.
🏆 Winner – Nikki Davies – Next Step Independence
Nikki’s kindness, compassion, and dedication shine through in every aspect of her work with children and young people. Her warm and outgoing nature helps build trust, confidence, and meaningful relationships, making a lasting positive impact on the lives of those she supports.
⭐ The Fabulous Frontline Leader Award
🌟 Highly Commended – Louise Campbell – Salutem
Louise Campbell was highly commended for her exceptional leadership, dedication, and commitment as a Service Manager. Through her supportive approach, professionalism, and passion for delivering high-quality care, she has created a positive environment where both staff and young people feel valued, empowered, and supported to achieve the very best outcomes.
🏆 Winner – Kayleigh Darby – Witherslack Group
Kayleigh Darby consistently goes above and beyond to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the children she supports. Her compassion, dedication, and selfless nature shine through in everything she does, from creating unforgettable learning opportunities to supporting colleagues whenever needed. Kayleigh embodies the values, culture, and heart of Cumbria View, making a lasting impact on everyone around her.