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Sector Awards for Social Service Professionals

Honouring the dedication of social service professionals across diverse job roles in Singapore with the President’s Award, Excellence Award, Merit Award, and Team Award.

Last updated 23 January 2025

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Overview
Eligibility criteria
How to nominate
For more information
A diverse group of six individuals, including a mother with her child, smiling and interacting.

Overview

The Sector Awards for Social Service Professionals aims to appreciate and recognise the passion and professional contributions made by dedicated social service professionals (SSPs) in Singapore, including those in the fields of social work, youth work, psychology, counselling, therapy, care work, and corporate services. The awards comprise four categories: President’s Award, Excellence Award, Merit Award, and Team Award.

Call for nominations will be open from 3 February 2025, Monday to 5:00 pm on 14 March 2025, Friday.

President’s Award for Social Service Professionals

The President’s Award for Social Service Professionals is the highest award to social service professionals conferred by the President of the Republic of Singapore. This Award recognises social service professionals, with more than 15 years of experience, who are committed to excellence and innovation, demonstrated outstanding leadership ability, and have made significant contributions to the social service sector.

The awardee will receive $10,000 cash prize and a certificate.

Excellence Award for Social Service Professionals

The Excellence Award will be conferred by the Minister for Social and Family Development. This Award recognises social service professionals, with more than 8 years of experience, who have delivered excellent service, demonstrated strong leadership ability and achieved notable positive outcomes and impact on the lives of clients and/or the community.

The awardee will receive $5,000 cash prize and a certificate.

Merit Award for Social Service Professionals

The Merit Award will be conferred by the Minister for Social and Family Development. This Award recognises social service professionals, with more than 3 years of experience, who demonstrated potential for leadership development in the profession and have made a difference in the lives of clients and/or the community.

The awardee will receive $1,000 cash prize and a certificate.

Team Award

The Team Award will be conferred by the Minister for Social and Family Development. This Award recognises team-based efforts that contribute to the improvement of service delivery in the social service sector, focusing on client-centric, cross-profession and cross-agency contributions.

There must be a minimum of 2 individuals per team across at least 2 professions and/or agencies. All nominees in the team must each have more than 3 years of experience in social service at the time of nomination deadline.

The awarded team will receive $10,000 cash prize per team and a certificate for each team member.

Eligibility criteria

Upon submission of the nomination, nominee must meet the following criteria:

  1. Possess the required years of experience in social service at the time of nomination deadline as follows:

    • President’s Award: More than 15 years

    • Excellence Award: More than 8 years

    • Merit Award: More than 3 years

    • Team Award: More than 3 years (for each team member)

  2. Be performing/providing direct social services in job roles which include, but not limited to the following:

    • Care and Programme (e.g., Programme Management, Volunteer Management, Care)

    • Corporate Services (e.g., Human Resource, Administration, Finance, Information Technology, Centre Management)

    • Counselling

    • Early Intervention Teaching

    • Psychology

    • Social Work

      • For nominees in the social work profession, social workers from all sectors (e.g., healthcare, early childhood etc.) who meet the minimum years of work experience will be eligible.

    • Therapy (Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy)

    • Youth Work

  3. Be currently employed and endorsed by a social service agency (SSA) performing/ providing direct social service

  4. Should not have received other national level awards

How to nominate

The call for nomination will open on 3 February 2025, Monday. Please submit your nominations by 14 March 2025, Friday, 5:00 pm. Submissions received after the nomination period will not be eligible.

For more information

Please refer to the frequently asked questions (FAQs) or email ssp_awards@ncss.gov.sg.