Nominations are required for the Social Worker of the Year Award. While Clare hates mutual back-slapping as much as the next person, she uses all her powers of manipulation to influence the matter.

Clare is daydreaming that she has won the social worker of the year award. Brian soon wakes her from her daydream, as they are going out to the theatre - a another suggestion by the couple's counsellor. Clare makes her excuses not wanting to go and it results in Brian asking Simon to go with him, as the tickets have already been bought. Simon agrees because he has heard the plays involves nudity. But, according to Simon, a man with his clothes off is not nudity, it is awful.

Later that evening, Brian arrives home late after having walked the long route to avoid reckless teens smashing cars and shouting in the street. Brian is worried that he is too much of a coward. He later becomes subject to bullying during the end of term football match between students and staff some days later. Charlie Charlston the P.E teacher is one of the football players and threatens Brian (the referee) to cheat.

An e-mail arrives at the office announcing that people should begin casting their nominations for the Social Worker of the Year Award. Everyone in the office thinks it a complete waste of time. Ray thinks it is nothing more than mutual back-slapping and Irene doesn't have the time, what with the break-up with her husband Stanley and new lesbian relationship. While Clare is in complete agreement with everything said, she still keeps the idea alive and later bribes everyone in the office for her vote. While Megan, Ray and Helen are on board with the idea, Irene insists that Clare must talk to Stanley about the marriage break-up, in order to get her vote. Clare accepts and makes Brian do it during a pub quiz that night.

At the pub quiz (one that Brian is eagerly looking forward to), Clare tells Brian to look after Stanley by himself as she is off to baby-sit Megan's daughter, Brenda. Stanley arrives at the pub distressed just as the quiz is about to start, and while Brian is listening to Stanley's predicament, he continues to answer the questions. Stanley finds himself answering them too while giving his heartbroken speech and ends up partnering up with Brian in the quiz. Once it ends, Stanley has perked up and thanks Brian for a fun evening. Brian reassures Stanley that soon he will have forgotten about Irene and her being a lesbian. Unbeknownst to Brian, Stanley didn't know about Irene being a lesbian... he breaks to tears. Brian later arrives home fuming with Clare for making him do her dirty work.

Some time later, Brian is approached by Charlie Charlston the P.E teacher. Charlie makes fun at Brian and Brian retaliates, punching him to the ground and repeatedly kicking him on the floor. He is then woken up by Clare saying he was kicking her in his sleep.