A Therapist who is learning Punjabi to help her with her work won top prize at an awards ceremony for social workers. Hilary Brown, an occupational therapist at Joynes House, Gravesend, won £500 for the social services centre.

She is one of a number of outstanding social workers who won prizes at the west Kent leg of the Kent County Council Social Services Quality Service Awards.

Early years project officer Hayley Cann, who is based at the Under One Roof project in Swanscombe Street, Swanscombe, won the second prize of £500.

Staff from the Leyton House Linked Service Centre, in Common Lane, Wilmington, and Nicki Vass and Andrea Hewitt from Gravesend Family Support team won joint third prize and will get £250 each for their service.