Paul Coke will be congratulated by Tony Blair for good service

One of Merton Council?s social workers has been invited to meet the Prime Minister following his years of hard work and dedication working with young people.

Paul Coke, a social work Team Manager, has worked in Merton for two years and was put forward by the Director of Social Services, Rea Mattocks, after government ministers invited nominations of excellent social services staff whom the PM could formally meet and congratulate.

Paul will travel to 10 Downing Street to meet Tony and Cherie Blair on 18 March and will be representing Merton during the evening ceremony.

Councillor Maxi Martin, Cabinet Member for Children?s Services, said: ?This is brilliant news for Paul and for Merton. We?re very proud of him and the hard work he has been carrying out. He thoroughly deserves the honour of meeting the PM at Downing Street and I wish him all the best.?

Rea Mattocks said: ?We nominated Paul Coke for a number of reasons. He has worked in Merton for two years, during a particularly difficult time for children?s services and has always provided the best he could to the young people he has worked with.

?He is also one of the many members of staff who is instrumental in helping us to improve services and in showing commitment and dedication to Merton and to service users. All in all, he was nominated as it is him and people like him who are an inspiration to all other workers.?