worker Dianna Taylor was named Social Worker of the Year -- an honour bestowed on her for her commitment, enthusiasm, and professionalism towards her work.

This is the third year in which the Social Work Council has honoured a social worker for their work throughout the year.

Mrs. Taylor told The Royal Gazette that she was honoured to win the award which was a complete surprise to her.

"The Bermuda Social Work Council annually selects a Social Worker of the Year and social workers are nominated from different social agencies in the community and then they are voted on,'' Mrs. Taylor said.

She added: "This year they surprised me. I feel honoured and privileged to have been given this award.

"I knew that I had been nominated but you don't know who is going to win until you're at the luncheon, which was held on Sunday March 30.

"The Social Work committee did a really great job.'' Mrs. Taylor is an intake social worker at Family Services, which is a `gatekeeper' for all the child abuse cases on the Island for children aged up to 17-years-old.

"We are the front line people, we decide what level we work with people -- we assess and evaluate and refer cases for counselling,'' Mrs. Taylor said. She added that Family Services deals with cases of physical and sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect.

Mrs. Taylor, who returned to Bermuda 10 years ago after living in Pittsburgh, has worked in several different parts of Family Services which includes foster care and intervention units but she has been solely in intake for almost three years. "We work hand in hand with the community and Juvenile Services so jointly we investigate cases.'' She added that while living in Pittsburgh she focused on psychiatric social work.

Asked what made her decide to become a social worker Mrs. Taylor said: "I always wanted to help people and ever since I was small people have come to me seeking advice about certain problems and relationships and I have always liked working with children.

"So when I was in graduate school I concentrated on children and youth. The yearning to be a social worker has just always been there.'' Mrs. Taylor said: "In college I majored in social work and one of my teachers was a nurse/social worker. She was instrumental in keeping me in the social work field. She kind of took me under her wing, she was a mentor.'' She added: "Being a social worker has brought a lot of fulfilment to my life, people say you don't get paid enough to do this job but it does not have anything to do with money.

"There is a saying `There is no man that stands as tall as he who stoops to help a child' and that says it all. If you help one child it counts, it matters, and that is what I think keeps most people in social work.'' In conclusion Mrs. Taylor, who was too startled to say her thank you's at the luncheon, said: "My thanks goes to the Bermuda Social Work Council, the persons who nominated me, my colleagues at Family Services who are a wonderful group of people to work with and my family for their support.'' President of the Social Work Council Lyndon Jackson said Mrs. Taylor was chosen because "there was a criteria that we had set aside and Dianna had accumulated enough experience and has shown to be committed, enthusiastic and professional in response to her duties and also someone respected by co-workers and colleagues alike.

"On a more personal level Dianna is really someone who brings everything into her work, the word `commitment' is really an understatement when describing her because she really goes above and beyond.'' Mr. Jackson added: "She has been working on the cutting edge of social work for some time and when she has been involved with the council her comments have always been constructive.

"As a result of her being chosen as Social Worker of the Year we hope to draw her in to the council because she can contribute a lot to our goals and objectives.

"Her role in Family Services is not easy and we hope people get a sense of who she is and what she is about.''