A Senior Social Worker from Liverpool says she feels “honoured” after winning a National Lifetime Achievement Award for her work with children and families.

Maria Moore, a Senior Social Worker and Practice Educator with Liverpool City Council, was named a finalist in the prestigious Social Worker of the Year Awards 2025 and was successful – beating off stiff competition from across the country.

She was chosen for the award in recognition of her exceptional practice and commitment to making a difference to the lives of children and families as well as inspiring and nurturing the next generation of social workers in Liverpool.

Finalists were selected by a panel of independent judges, including previous award winners, social workers, sector leaders and people with lived experience of social work. The winners will be revealed at a special event in October at The Midland Hotel in Manchester.

Now in its 19th year, the Social Worker of the Year Awards is the only major national awards event for social work in England. It celebrates outstanding achievements in the profession and aims to improve public understanding of the challenging and rewarding work social workers do every day.

There are 18 Awards overall, with the winners chosen by the Board of Trustees from all the gold-winning entries.

1 colleague of Maria’s described her as a “role model”, saying:- “I am so grateful to have a mentor like her on our team. Maria has always been a role model to me, through her nurturing and kind nature towards others and in her practice as a social worker. We are very lucky to have Maria, and I can think of no better person who deserves this award.”

Maria said:- “I am very honoured to receive the award – I am proud of to be part of Children’s Services and thank you to all my colleagues at Liverpool City Council for their support.”

Cllr Liz Parsons, Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Services with Liverpool City Council, said:- “On behalf of the council, I want to congratulate Maria on this well-deserved award. Throughout her career, Maria has shown unwavering dedication, compassion, and professionalism in supporting children, young people, and families in Liverpool. This recognition is a testament to the lasting impact Maria has made in our community, and we are incredibly proud of her contribution.”

Jenny Glennard, Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services, said:- “I am delighted that Maria has won this prestigious award. I am incredibly proud of the difference she makes every day and it’s wonderful to see that her dedication is being recognised and celebrated at a national level.”

For more information about the awards, visit the Social Work of the Year Awards website.