A Wiltshire social work professional has been posthumously honoured at the national Social Worker of the Year Awards.

Dr Matt Simpson, an approved mental health professional (AMHP) from Wiltshire Council, was named the gold award winner at the event.

He was announced as the Approved Mental Health Professional of the Year 2024 at the celebration event for social workers in London on Friday, November 8.

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Dr Simpson, who passed away at the start of this year, was a hub AMHP in the county and a senior lecturer and AMHP programme lead at Bournemouth University.

Colleagues say that he was guided by his belief that referrals for Mental Health Act (MHA) assessments should be carefully considered, and detention under the MHA should be a last resort.

Even when faced with dwindling resources and overstretched services, those who worked with him said that he encouraged others to challenge the inevitability of detention that seemed to underpin many MHA assessments.

His nomination said "Dr Matt Simpson was a practitioner of principle."

Dr Simpson was described as "not only a champion for those that found themselves at risk of being assessed under the MHA, but also a force for change in AMHP practice across the country".

In November 2022, he completed his PhD thesis, which was based on Section 13(1) of the MHA.

He explored AMHP decision-making at the point of referral and identified actions that can be taken at a much earlier point in the process to avert unnecessary assessment and detention.

His research struck a chord with AMHPs across the country and has influenced practice, with many services inspired to review their own approach as a result.

Ian Roberts from Wiltshire Council, who collected the award on Dr Simpson's behalf, said: "It’s so important to celebrate social workers, we often fly under the radar, we get on and do the work and often face a lot of criticism despite the fantastic work going on across the sector.

"It’s very important that we take the time to recognise that."

The Social Worker of the Year Awards were established in 2006 by independent social work practitioner, Beverley Williams MBE, to celebrate social work and promote positive stories from the profession.

Each award category is judged by an independent panel of social workers, people with lived experience, and senior figures from the world of social work.