A Croydon man who helped prevent a woman being wrongly sectioned is in the running to be named social worker of the year.

Andrew Thomas' nomination centred on the case of a service user who had been accused of significantly harming and neglecting her young child.

After her arrest she was initially thought to need long-term admission to a secure psychiatric unit because of symptoms including delusions, confused speech and hallucinations that unseen voices were ordering her to do things.

Based on the woman’s history, Mr Thomas said she had not been fully assessed by medical staff so he got another doctor’s independent second opinion.

After he did further detailed work with health service colleagues, it was agreed that the woman’s symptoms had been caused by drug use rather than her mental health.

She was not detained in a secure unit, but discharged from psychiatric care after treatment to get the support she needed from substance misuse services. The child now lives with other family members.

For three years, the 49-year-old has worked as a mental health social worker for Croydon Council and he was humbled to hear of the nomination.

"I’m in this job because I love helping people, and these awards are good because they reflect the kind of situations that health and social care professionals deal with all the time," he said.

"I was proud to share the news of my nomination with my family."

If Mr Thomas comes out on top as the best mental health social worker in England, he will then face off against 15 other category winners to become overall Social Worker of the Year.

“I am very proud that Andrew has been nominated as a finalist for this national award," Councillor Louisa Woodley said.

"Andrew works relentlessly to make a positive difference to the lives of Croydon residents who have mental health needs.

"He is respected by colleagues, partners and service users for his knowledge, skills and ability to empower and motivate those he works with.

"All this has been rightly recognised through this nomination, and I wish him much success on the night of the awards.”