An Oxfordshire social worker has been recognised nationally for her dedication to supporting children and families.
Amy Snell, who lives in Wallingford and works for Oxfordshire County Council, has been honoured as part of the Amazing Social Workers campaign run by the British Association of Social Workers (BASW).
Amy was nominated anonymously by someone who experienced first-hand the impact of her work supporting young people and families.
Their testimonial praised her commitment to advocacy and care, stating:
“Amy embodies what it means to be a social worker. She is fearless and compassionate in advocating for human rights, protecting adults and children, and supporting her colleagues.
“Amy shares her expertise generously with colleagues, newer members of staff and now after working for several years supporting children and families, she continues to promote and protect the rights of adults she comes into contact with through her work.”
Reacting to the recognition, Amy said the nomination came as a surprise.
“This is so unexpected, I didn’t put myself forward for recognition and because the person who nominated me has done so without revealing their name, it’s both a pleasant surprise and a bit of a mystery,” she said.
“My passion is making a difference to children and their families, not making headlines, just quietly taking pride when young people overcome challenges.
“However, if I can showcase the vital role of social workers through this achievement and encourage more people to join the profession, I’m delighted to be one of the faces of BASW’s campaign.”
Amy studied at Oxford Brookes University and qualified as a social worker in 2019. She has worked with Oxfordshire County Council ever since.
In her current role within the council’s multi-agency safeguarding hub, Amy works with families to provide early help and support, aiming wherever possible to keep parents and children together.
Her work involves helping families navigate a wide range of challenges, including mental health concerns, substance misuse, bullying and, in some cases, gang exploitation.
The role also requires close collaboration with partner organisations such as the police, schools, healthcare services, foster carers, adopters and volunteers.
Amy explained that social work is often misunderstood.
“The job of social workers can be misunderstood, sometimes because we’re misrepresented in television dramas and soaps,” she said.
“It’s therefore daunting for families when they come in contact with us, often for the first time, and part of my role is to reassure.”
She added that supporting families before more intensive intervention becomes necessary is a key priority.
“Although we have fantastic foster carers who can provide loving environments for vulnerable children it’s about trying to support families before that level of extra care is needed,” she said.
Amy typically manages more than 20 cases each week, many of which result in positive outcomes.
“The vast majority will have positive outcomes for families. That’s hugely rewarding for me, knowing I’ve played my part in a young person’s life, helping them conquer adversity, setting them up for what I hope will be a happy and fulfilling future. It’s what gets me out of bed each morning!”
Councillor Sean Gaul praised Amy’s work and the wider contribution of social workers across the county.
“Amy, like so many of our social workers, is a shining example of compassion, dedication and professionalism,” he said.
“Our commitment to make a difference to the lives of every young person in Oxfordshire means her profession, quite rightly, deserves maximum recognition.”
BASW will highlight all the recognised professionals on its website and social media channels throughout March.
Lewis Roberts said the campaign celebrates the dedication of social workers across communities.
“We’re proud to run our Amazing Social Workers campaign for its sixth consecutive year,” he said.
“It is a wonderful way for our profession to celebrate inspiring social work practice and pay tribute to the many individual and collective successes that deserve to be noticed.”
More information about becoming a children’s social worker is available through Oxfordshire County Council.
