Therapeutic Social Worker, Salford City Council

Joanne Butterworth a Therapeutic Social Worker, was Salford City Council's employee of the year in 2009.

She is committed to reducing discrimination against young people with learning disabilities. She helps young people and parents to communicate better about sexual health issues and growing up.

Joanne has developed an assessment tool for use when a young person's behaviour is of concern and unlike other assessments can be used before offences are committed. The tool identifies where behaviour is due to a lack of knowledge or understanding, and where appropriate monitoring and support systems are needed so that an action plan can be developed involving the young person.

Joanne works tirelessly to support others and has influenced many areas of the service including policy and practice. She helped develop a group-work programme for college students and integrated the needs of young people with learning disabilities into Speakeasy training for parents.