Our social worker has been awarded an MBE
Thursday, 3 January 2019
One of our officers, who has been given an MBE for her services to social work and social work education, has said she feels "honoured" to have received the award.
Louise Purser was named in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List 2019 for her 38-year career in local government with children and young people, including her current role assessing newly qualified social workers, plus volunteering as a Girlguiding leader and as a carer for children with disabilities.
For more than 20 years, Louise has been actively involved in supporting social work students as a practice educator as part of a previous role as a strategic lead for the social work and social care workforce.
Louise joined us five years ago and has been instrumental in the success of The Academy’s Assessed and Supported Year In Employment (ASYE) for newly qualified children's social workers.
Her contribution to the quality of student and newly qualified social worker development has resulted in significant reductions in social worker vacancy rates and a major increase in the number of applications to join our ASYE programme.
Louise was previously acknowledged for her contribution to social work in 2016, when she received a Silver Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2016 national Social Worker of The Year Awards. She is also the current chair of the British Association of Social Workers England Professional Capabilities and Development Policy, Practice and Education Group.
Louise said: "I feel honoured to be nominated for the MBE and for my roles as a social worker and volunteer as a Brownie Guide leader, supported by fantastic Guide leaders, district commissioners and leaders and as a carer for children with disabilities to be recognised.
"My journey in social work has enabled me to work with families using a systemic approach, empowering them to make changes within their lives. I have supported social work students through being a practice educator and being a strategic lead for the social work and social care workforce, developing their skills and knowledge.
"In the past five years I’ve worked for Central Bedfordshire Council. Changing my role to assess newly qualified social workers has given me the opportunity to share my passion, commitment and many years of experience to develop social workers to make a difference to the work they do with children and young people.”