Jeanne, whose career in social work spans four decades, has headed up Coram’s leading adoption services for 34 years.
She was awarded an OBE for her services to children in 2009.
Under her direction, Coram’s voluntary adoption services have expanded to become one of the largest in the country.
Jeanne oversaw the formation of the country’s first partnership between a voluntary adoption service and a local authority, the celebrated Harrow-Coram partnership cited as a ‘blueprint’ by the Children’s Minister in 2011.
She has also championed Concurrent Planning, a special service offering more stability for looked-after vulnerable babies, which has been embraced by Government and rolled out to over a dozen local authorities.
Jeanne is an author on adoption and helps steer pioneering research into looked-after and adopted children’s welfare.
Coram’s Chief Dr Carol Homden, CBE, said Jeanne could not be more deserving of the nomination:
“Jeanne has devoted her working life to children and to making Coram’s adoption services among the best in the country.
“Alongside her work at Coram, Jeanne has positively impacted on adoption at every level; working with Government, the research world, and the voluntary and public sector.
“She has followed the 275 – year tradition set by our founder, Thomas Coram, who established us as the Foundling Hospital when no other such charity existed to take in children facing abandonment on London’s streets, and changed the lives of hundreds of children and families.
“We are delighted to see her recognised in these prestigious awards.”
The Social Worker of the Year Awards were established in 2006 with the aim of recognising and celebrating the challenging work of qualified social workers and highlighting the good work they do.
The awards ceremony will take place on Friday 28 November at the Lancaster London Hotel.
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