Regional Social Work Awards 2026

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Welcome to the Regional Social Work Awards 2026 online application form. Select one of the awards categories below and click 'continue' to start your application for the Regional Social Work Awards 2026.

We recommend you use the 'Save and come back later' option at the bottom of this page to allow you to 'save and return' to this application form. This will give you a unique log-in to save progress made on the application. It will also enable you to transfer access to your organisation's endorser for approval and submission of the application.

When nominating a social worker or team of social workers for this award, please outline what makes their practice excellent in relation to the award category. Please include examples of the contribution the social worker(s) have made to social work services. Quotes and testimonies from service users, carers and other professionals strengthen a submission, but should not be the whole submission.

In all the awards categories, the judges will be looking for evidence of the individual or team’s achievements. The application must demonstrate what is excellent about the social work practice and the positive impact on individuals, groups or communities they work with.

You must complete all sections in this application before submitting. You can preview responses on pages up to the point of submitting the application. The 'back' button at the bottom of each page is activated once all required sections on a page are completed.

Click on the 'Further Guidance' link below to access a summary of how to complete this application.

Further guidance on making an application Further guidance on making an application

‘Save and return’ - starting, pausing, transferring and submitting the application The online form must be saved to allow it to be edited and also for it to be transferred from the person creating the application to the person endorsing the application. The ‘save and return’ option must be activated at the bottom of Section 1 on the form to create a unique login for each application. ‘Save and return’ enables the person creating the application to make edits up to the point of transfer to the Endorser. The unique log-in must be shared with the organisation’s approved endorser to enable them to log in to the application to check, approve and submit the form. Please note: content can only be added to the applications up to the point it is submitted. An application cannot be edited once it has been submitted.

Section 1 Information - Details for the social worker(s) nominated for the award. The information required includes the nominee name(s), Social Care Council registration number, their job title, daytime phone number, email address, employing organisation and the address where they are based for work.

Section 2 Information - Details for the person proposing the social worker(s) for the award. The information required includes the proposer’s name, daytime phone number, email address, role in which they have contact with the nominee(s) and proposer’s work address/contact address.

Section 3 - Statement of evidence to support the application – This is a descriptive piece to evidence how the nominee(s) meet the criteria for the award. It is recommended to include testimony from service users and those who have experienced the nominee(s) practice. This statement is limited to 7,000 characters, which is equivalent to approximately 1,000 words with spaces. The form will automatically cut off at 7,000 characters. Supplementary material cannot be added to the application.

Section 4 Information – Details for the person authorised to submit the nomination. All applications must be approved by the organisation employing the nominee(s) and they must consent to being included in the nomination. (Legacy of Light Award varies from this. Further detail is below). The information required from the person endorsing the nomination includes the name, contact details and organisation details for the endorser. It also includes completing an affirmation that all the material included on the application is correct and that all nominee(s) are eligible to be included on the application. The endorser must confirm that no breaches of service user or carer confidentiality are contained within the application.

BASW NI Legacy of Light Award – This award is open to practising and retired social workers. Managerial endorsement from an employing organisation is not mandatory for this nomination. However, the final endorsement section must be completed to confirm that the nominee is aware of and has consented to being nominated for the award.

Previous applicants/recipients are welcome to reapply - Previous winners/recipients are only eligible to reapply if their application has a different practice focus.

Multiple applications – An individual or team may only be entered for one category once. Organisations can enter more than one category; however, each submission must be entirely separate and on an individual entry form. Duplicate nominations will be disqualified. Where a person/team is nominated more than once to a category, nominators will be asked to select one nomination.

Consent - By submitting this application, the proposer consents on behalf of all those involved in the application that they will meet the conditions of entry.

Management of data – All information provided on this application will be managed jointly by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (as the holder of the Citizen Space data) and the Regional Social Work Awards 2026 management team (Belfast Health and Social Care Trust Workforce Learning and Development Service). All data will be held securely and used solely for the management and promotion of the awards.

Publicity - By entering the Social Work Awards, entrants agree to take part in any publicity and to the contents of their submission being used in media releases.

Further advice – if you require advice on making a nomination, or have a query about the management of the Social Work Awards, please email the SW Awards Management team at BHSCT RegionalSWAwards @belfasttrust.hscni.net If you require technical assistance with submitting the online application, please contact the Social Care Council team at businesssupport@niscc.hscni.net

1. Please select the award category for this nomination (only one category can be selected)

(Required) Beacon of Light Award – nominations can be made for an individual social worker at any stage of their career who leads with care and compassion. This award is an opportunity to recognise leadership at all levels. Bright Spark Award – nominations can be made for an individual social worker who is within their first two years of practice at the time of applying (inclusive of the AYE year). This award recognises a social worker whose practice evidences the positive attitude and attributes of a newly qualified social worker. Constellation Award – nominations can be made for a team of social workers, or for social workers who work together as part of a multidisciplinary team. This award recognises a team of social workers whose practice evidences the positive characteristics of a motivated team. Lighting the Way Award – nominations can be made for an individual social worker, or a team of social workers, or for social workers who work together as part of a multidisciplinary team. This award recognises an individual / *team of social workers with a commitment to having learning and development at the heart of their practice. Torch of Co-production Award – nominations can be made for an individual social worker, or a team of social workers, or for social workers who work together as part of a multidisciplinary team. This award recognises an individual / *team of social workers who are working alongside people with lived experience to create an outcome that benefits all. BASW NI Legacy of Light Award – nominations can be made for an individual social worker who currently in practice, or who as retired and recently left the register. This award recognises a social worker who has made a lasting contribution to social work.