NEXT week marks World Social Work Day, a global event recognising the important role social workers play in our society and the often vital support they provide to so many people.

Durham County Council employs about 600 social workers and social work assistants, who help protect the most vulnerable people in our communities and bring positive change for children, young people and adults as well as their families and carers.

They work with people of all ages, providing support at difficult times and helping people find positive ways forward in the face of everyday challenges. In some cases, they can act as guides and advocates.

The theme of this year’s World Social Work Day, which takes place on Tuesday, March 17, is the importance of human relationships and this really is at the heart of what our social workers do on a daily basis.

Helping people when they are at their most vulnerable is not just about being able to find potential solutions to the problems they face, it is also about being caring and compassionate. Providing practical advice and support is clearly important but so too is the ability to help someone without judging.

Social work can be incredibly challenging but also very rewarding and I am extremely proud of the everyday efforts of our teams.

I am also keen to highlight what we do as a council to support our social work teams, especially our commitment to providing opportunities for people to embark on a career in social work or improve their skills.

Our Care Academy is proving very successful in supporting new and existing staff and we also support the national Think Ahead programme, which offers graduates and those thinking of a career change, a route into mental health social work, as well as the Step Up to Social Work initiative. This is a government-run postgraduate fast-track programme operated in partnership with the region’s 11 other local authorities and Manchester Metropolitan University.

These recruitment drives have not only increased the resilience of our workforce but have also meant that social workers have smaller caseloads, giving them more time to dedicate to the individuals they work with.

The support and guidance they receive also means social workers are more likely to stay with the council, meaning we retain the skills and experience they have built up.

As we come together to mark World Social Work Day, I would like to thank our social workers for their hard work and dedication to the people of County Durham throughout the year.

Simon Henig is leader of Durham County Council