A WINSFORD-based social work team has been selected as a finalist for a prestigious national award.

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Children in Need team, based at Wyvern House in Winsford, has been nominated as Team of Year in this 2016 Social Worker of the Year Awards.

The team has been nominated as a result of their work with children and their families across the borough, and will attend an awards ceremony in London in November.

The ceremony is the leading celebration of its kind in the social care sector, and recognises the achievements and successes of the most innovative and dedicated social workers.

Cllr Nicole Meardon, CWAC cabinet member for children and young people, said: "This award recognises best practice in children’s social care and teams which consistently make a positive difference to the lives of the children and families they support.

“To reach the finals is an outstanding achievement and something to be very proud of.

"While we already have an incredibly tight-knit group of social workers providing quality care to some of our most vulnerable children across the borough, we need even more professionals across Chester, Winsford and Ellesmere Port to ensure all of our families, children and young people are supported.

“We are currently taking a very proactive approach to recruit and build on one of the most successful Ofsted inspections in the country."

The awards were judged by leading influencers including the Chief Social Workers Isabelle Trowler and Lyn Romeo and Maris Stratulis (England Manager, British Association of Social Workers).

The CWAC team is one of 78 finalists across 15 categories, and the winners of each category will compete against each other to be named the Overall Social Worker of the Year 2016.

For more information about the awards, visit socialworkawards.com, and to find out more about a social care career visit cwcrecruitment.co.uk.