MBE for children's social care manager

Selwyn Morgans, the recently retired manager of Aycliffe Security Centre, has been awarded an MBE.

Selwyn Morgans worked in children's social care for more than 20 years before recently retiring.

The last seven years of his career were spent as manager of our Aycliffe Secure Centre, which provides a secure and caring home for vulnerable young people with complex needs between the ages of 10 and 18-years-old.

Selwyn, from Newton Aycliffe, was in charge of the centre during the Covid pandemic, a period which saw unprecedented demands on staff and residents.

Despite the multiple challenges this brought, the 62-year-old and his management team ensured the centre always remained fully functional and complied with rapidly changing guidelines.

He also supported and led on key service developments which have helped to further improve outcomes for young people and ensure they have as many positive experiences as possible while at the centre.

"A fantastic but humbling experience"

Selwyn said: "I'm absolutely delighted that my work and the centre's high quality of care has been recognised in this way. It's a fantastic but humbling experience.

"I feel privileged to have worked with some fantastic colleagues and a really supportive management team during my time at the council and loved my time working at Aycliffe Secure Centre. It brought its challenges at times but was also hugely rewarding.

"This honour is recognition of the important work all of the staff at Aycliffe do - all children have talents and abilities and, at Aycliffe, everyone does everything they can to help them be the best they can be."

"We are incredibly proud"

Martyn Stenton, our Deputy Corporate Director for children and young people's services, said: "We are really pleased to see Selwyn's achievements recognised nationally through the King's Birthday Honours.

"During his time at Aycliffe, Selwyn worked hard to create an environment that encourages and inspires young people, enabling them to achieve their potential and take their place in society.

"He also ensured that staff in the centre got to know the young people, building up a rapport and fitting programmes around individual needs.

"His dedication has also been recognised by external inspectors who visited the centre in recent years.

"We are incredibly proud of Selwyn and look forward to him bringing his medal into the centre to show the young people."