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Social Work Student of the Year Awards

Congratulations to Verity Merklow, a student on the Step Up to Social Work programme

  • Date08 January 2021

Verity received a special mention in the Developing Together Social Work Teaching Partnership Awards. This is a fantastic achievement, particularly in the context of being a student on placement in the middle of the covid 19 pandemic.

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Verity is a student on placement in the London Borough of Wandsworth. The Teaching Partnership works with a large number of local authorities and third sector organisations in the south-west London and Surrey region. From an extensive group of experienced practitioners and social work students Verity was commended for the additional work she took on during the height of the global pandemic, providing support to a Disability Team working with service users and carers deemed to be at risk and vulnerable. Celebrating excellent social work practice, Verity’s resilience and commitment were highlighted by the organisers:

“Social Work in the current climate is about having the capacity to develop your own emotional resilience while simultaneously supporting service users to also develop emotional resilience to manage their own barriers/challenges. Verity has demonstrated the capacity do this”.

Verity said it was a great honour to be shortlisted and to receive a special mention in the Awards.  “Being a social work student in the current climate of the coronavirus pandemic has been a challenging and extraordinary experience. However, I have received continued support from the teaching staff at Royal Holloway, my social work placement practice educator, supervisor, and the wider team, who have all been integral in enabling me to continue to gain valuable learning experiences. I have been able to gain vital skills in practice which are enhanced and complimented by the academic course.

To have received this recognition has been extremely uplifting and motivating. I am looking forward to qualifying as a social worker; to work alongside and support children and families through the practice of social work.”

Congratulations Verity -  a fantastic achievement in very difficult times.

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