RM v Westminster City Council & Social Work England
Discover more from Open Justice with Tribunal Tweets
RM v Westminster City Council & Social Work England
Social worker takes her employer and professional body to an employment tribunal
Social worker of 20 years, Rachel Meade, is bringing her employer, Westminster City Council, and professional regulatory body, Social Work England (SWE), to an employment tribunal due to discrimination on the basis of her protected beliefs under the Equality Act 2010.
In June 2020, a friend of RM raised concerns with SWE about her posts in a private group on social media. RM had shared posts about upholding women's rights from various organisations, during the then reform consultation for the Gender Recognition Act 2004.
In July 2021, Social Work England's investigation found the posts to be ‘discriminatory’ and ‘disgusting’ and sanctioned RM for 12 months, ruling that her ‘fitness to practise is impaired by way of misconduct’. RM was then suspended by her employer, with a warning that she was at risk of being dismissed for misconduct.
In October 2022, days before a ‘fitness to practice’ hearing on the sanction, Social Work England sought and was granted a discontinuance stating it did not intend to defend its position. The hearing was reported by Tribunal Tweets.
RM's case against her employer and SWE will be heard at an Employment Tribunal in July 2023.
A case hearing will take place on 11th April 2023. At this hearing the judge will hear fresh discrimination claims from RM alongside her original claims.
More info can be found at RM's crowdfunder
Status
A preliminary case management hearing will take place on 11th April 2023 ahead of the tribunal scheduled for July 2023.
Live tweeting sessions
11th April morning - NC requested RM's new claims be consolidated with her outstanding claims. Counsel for 2 respondents requested the new claims be struck out. Judge returning with a decision after lunch.
12th April afternoon - Judge rules against striking out the new claims. WCC apply for reporting restrictions are refused bar 2 comparators who will be anonymised. Case management for July's hearing concluded the session.
Abbreviations
J - Employment Judge Nicklin
RM - Social Worker sanctioned by SWE
NC - Naomi Cunningham, Barrister for RM
SWE - Social Work England
SC - Simon Cheetham KC, Counsel for Social Work England
WCC - Westminster City Council
JB - Julie Bann, solicitor for WCC
Non participants:
MM - Mermaids
FPFW - Fair Play for Women
WPUK - Women's Place UK
Other:
GI - Gender Identity
GC - Gender Critical
BITWB - 'Born In The Wrong Body'
WORIADS - Worthy of respect in a democratic society
E - for 'Echo' - the complainant who complained about RM to SWE
SoC: Statement of Case SoC 7/22: Statement of Case July 2022
SoC 7/10/22: Statement of Case 7th Oct 2022
Live Tweeting coverage
Press coverage
Here are links to a selection of relevant press coverage about RM’s case. These links are included without comment and are not endorsed by Tribunal Tweets. This is a sample of coverage only, with most recent first - it is not comprehensive. Please DM our main Twitter account to submit coverage from an established news outlet. Any paywalled article must be archived.
23 Oct 2022
17 Oct 2022
Evidence-Based Social Work Alliance (EBSWA) - Response of Rachel Meade to SWE application to discontinue its case in full
Evidence-Based Social Work Alliance (EBSWA) - Submission in Review Hearing of SWE decision to sanction social worker for gender critical views
13 Oct 2022
Evidence-Based Social Work Alliance (EBSWA) - Social Work England Discontinues Case Against Gender Critical Social Worker
10 Oct 2022
Spiked - Trans ideology has spread far beyond Mermaids
8 May 2022
Graham Linehan Substack - Rachel Meade: The process is the punishment
31 Jan 2022
Social Work News - Social worker sues regulator and employer due to suspension for gender beliefs
30 Jan 2022
Social Work News - Social worker given 12-month warning because of her gender critical beliefs
13 Jan 2022
The Times - Social worker Rachel Meade suspended over gender critical Facebook posts
6 Sept 2021
Evidence-Based Social Work Alliance (EBSWA) - EBSWA response to Social Work England 6th September 2021
24 Aug 2021
Unherd - Social workers risk everything for sharing their views
21 Aug 2021
Spiked - Are social workers allowed to support women’s rights?