Generations of families in the South Eastern Trust, who have dedicated their lives to Social Work, gathered in the Great Hall at the Downshire Hospital to celebrate World Social Work Day 2025.
This year’s theme, Intergenerational Solidarity for Emotional and Enduring Wellbeing, highlighted that Social Work is a profession that spans generations. Within the South Eastern Trust, many Social Workers come from the same families, with sons, daughters, nieces, nephews and cousins all playing a vital role, in supporting people from newborn babies to the elderly.
The Downshire event was filled with fun and camaraderie, featuring a ‘Family Fortunes’ style quiz where families of Social Workers tested their knowledge, answering important questions such as how many cups of tea a Social Worker drinks in a day!
The Nellis family, narrowly won the competition, defeating the Sister Act team after a tie breaker question. They were rewarded with exquisite hurricane lamps, crafted by the Disability Hub.
Emma Nellis, a Senior Social Worker in the Learning Improvement Team, revealed, “Six of the Nellis family are Social Workers and I think that is because we are very principled family.
“I love my job and connecting with people. I am a very sociable person and when I did case work, I enjoyed meeting the families I worked with in Disability and Psychiatry of Old Age. I have always been privileged to work with fantastic teams.
“When I left Disability, a family I worked with asked me to call and they thanked me and when I said I didn’t really do anything the daughter said ‘You listened to my mum’. That to me is Social Work.”
Brendan Nellis, a Social Worker in the Gateway Team, reflected, “Today is a great opportunity to share our experiences as a family of Social Workers. There are six of us in the family who have chosen this path. My father was also a Social Worker before retiring. My sister worked for Barnardo’s and when a Support Worker role became available, I applied and that is how my career began.
“Being a Social Worker isn’t easy, but having family members in the same profession means we can support each other. I enjoy my job because of the people I work with, it’s what has kept me going for so long.”
Fiona Nellis, a Key Worker in Ballynahinch Community Services for Older People, shared her journey into the profession saying “I originally applied to study Nursing but was encouraged to pursue social and community work instead. I really enjoy Social Work. There are highs and lows, but the peaks make it all worthwhile. It can be challenging, but as a family of Social Workers, we all do different aspects of the job and that makes it even more interesting.”
Fiona also emphasised the importance of public awareness, “A lot of people do not fully understand what we do as Social Workers. There is so much work happening behind the scenes and it is important that we are recognised for the difference we make.”
Highlighting the significance of World Social Work Day, Director of Children’s Services & Executive Director of Social Work, Lyn Preece commented, “This year’s theme emphasises how Social Workers provide support across all generations. It is a privilege to come together and celebrate this important work. No two days in Social Work are the same, you never know what challenges you may face, but the ability to intervene, be welcomed into people’s homes and make a real difference is incredibly rewarding.”
Lyn added, “The intergenerational focus is about empowering families to support each other and build strong networks. I am proud to be a Social Worker and to witness the incredible contribution our Social Workers make in the South Eastern Trust. Their dedication brings a sense of joy, fulfilment and achievement every single day.”
