Success for Education Authority staff at Professional in Practice Awards

Over 200 social workers from across Northern Ireland were honoured, including James Draper, Tracey O’Neil, and Elvin Cochrane from the Education Authority.

The Professional in Practice Awards ceremony is an opportunity to acknowledge the commitment made by each award recipient to their social work professional development. This year, the event has been extended to include presentations and discussions to celebrate social work leadership and achievement. Three award categories were presented - Consolidation Award in Social Work, Specialist Award in Social Work and Leadership and Strategic Award in Social Work - to social workers from a number of organisations, including the Education Authority.

James Draper, Education Authority’s Designated Officer for Child Protection, received a Leadership and Strategic Award. James, who also spoke at the awards ceremony, said,

“Social work in Northern Ireland benefits from a world class post-qualifying professional development framework. This has been instrumental in my own career development, and I am thankful for the support of my employer and colleagues to help me achieve this award.”

Education Welfare Officers at the Education Authority, Tracey O’Neill and Elvin Cochrane, both received the Northern Ireland Consolidation Award.

Thanking the organisers of the event, Tracey said,

“It was exciting, refreshing and at times challenging moving out of my comfort zone to undertake the Practice Teaching course but it was a fantastic course and I am now privileged to be a qualified Practice Teacher.”

Speaking following the event, Elvin said,

“I am delighted to receive this NISCC award in becoming a qualified social work Practice Teacher.  I would like to thank the Education Authority for providing this opportunity and to my line manager for his support with my continued professional development”.