HILLINGDON’S adolescents team is celebrating after achieving an awards double.

The council team was announced winner of the Care category in the Guardian Public Service Awards.

It then received a silver award in the Team of the Year, Children’s Services category in the Social Worker of the Year Awards.

Both awards recognise the team’s outstanding social work, which is having a positive impact on vulnerable young people and their families. 

The adolescents team has adopted intervention techniques to support and empower young people to stay safe, reduce conflict and remain in their home.

They work with children from 12 years old who are at risk of criminal or sexual exploitation, going missing from home, serious youth violence or family breakdown.

The leader of Hillingdon Council, Cllr Ray Puddifoot, said: “This is people-driven rather than system-led and we are seeing the benefits of looking at things in a different way.

“Vulnerable young people are engaging with their social worker more quickly.”