News

Staff from a project which steps in to work with children and parents in Folkestone and Hawkinge before any problems spiral out of control were celebrating this week after their manager was named as the best children's social worker in Kent.

Karen Darwell, who runs Causeway, based in the Brockman Family Centre in Cheriton High Street, won the Kent County Council Winner of Winners Quality Service Award for children's social services.

She told Kent County Council (KCC) Cabinet Member for Children and Families, Dr Tony Robinson, and KCC Chairman Fred Wood-Brignall, who came to the centre to congratulate her on her achievement: "I was gobsmacked. Winning is the pinnacle of my career. But really I see it as an award for all the team. I was proud to accept the award as a social worker on behalf of my profession and as a reflection of all the unsung good work that social workers do."

Karen's win came after she got a staggering 17 nominations, some from mums whom Causeway has helped as well as from her colleagues in social services, education and health.

One mum said: "Karen is like a guardian angel as she makes so many wishes come true."