Link Officers play a key role in championing evidence-informed practice and ensuring their organisations get maximum benefit from Research in Practice resources. Every year, we recognise and celebrate their achievements and hard work with our annual Link Officer Awards.
We were delighted to announce this year’s winners at our Link Officers’ Annual Meeting (LOAM). This year, LOAM was a joint hybrid event, bringing together our adults and children & families Link Officers from across our Partner network, both in-person and online. This was an exciting opportunity for our network to join together, share best practice, discuss emerging sector issues and to learn from one another.
We received nominations from across our Partner network, and we’d like to thank those who nominated their Link Officers, as well as all of our fantastic Link Officers who joined us at this year’s LOAM, either in-person or online.
The Link Officer of the Year embeds evidence-informed practice at all levels across the workforce. They encourage colleagues to engage with Research in Practice resources; they communicate and provide feedback between Partners to help improve practice; and they stand out as a champion of evidence-informed practice.
The Newcomer of the Year is a rising Link Officer who has made outstanding progress in their new role to actively support colleagues to engage with Research in Practice resources.
This year’s Link Officer Award winners are:
Link Officer of the Year – Adults
Lisa Dibsdall from Wiltshire Council
Lisa’s nominator described her as ‘very keen’ and ‘very good at promoting and encouraging colleagues.’ Using her role as Link Officer to ‘set up some great evidence-informed processes and a culture of learning.’
Lisa is very engaged, regularly using Research in Practice resources to support the design of policy and process in Wiltshire [...] she has set up some great evidence informed processes and a culture of learning for her successor and colleagues. Thanks Lisa for all your hard work!
Highly commended were: Nikki Holmes and Claire Farley (States of Jersey), Emma Brazier (Bristol City Council), and Michelle McDermott (Hull City Council).
Link Officer of the Year – Children & families
Suzanne Smith and Claire Rutherford from Hull City Council
In their nomination, Suzanne and Claire were described as ‘incredible’ and ‘passionate’. With their nominator highlighting the way they ‘promote the usage of Research in Practice resources for our newest members of the Children's workforce, specifically students and social work apprentices.’
Suzanne and Claire have established ‘Stop the Clock’ days once a month, making space to ensure staff have time to access resources and evidence together. Together with others they have made video clips promoting resources, Suzanne sends out newsletters and they support students and newly qualified staff to make using evidence part of their work from the earliest part of their careers.
Highly commended were: Greta Hofman (North Yorkshire County Council), Karen Andrews from (Blackpool Children's Services), and Sophie Christian (Wiltshire Council).
Newcomer of the Year
Hazel Ostle and Louise Parkin from Durham County Council
Hazel and Louise were described by their nominator as ‘extremely impressive’, and having ‘a clear vision of what they want to achieve in the first year and beyond.’
Hazel and Louise have approached their Partnership with Research in Practice with energy, enthusiasm and organisation [...] An extremely impressive start from Hazel and Louise who have been a pleasure to work with.
