Rachel Meade, Social Worker, being suspended for 'transphobic' Facebook postss

[MidCenturyClegs]

A social worker, Rachel Meade, is in the process of challenging Social Work England - their professional regulatory body - as she believes she may have discriminated against her due to gender critical beliefs.

This is because during the GRA consultation, she shared posts on her private FB page, from FPFW, WPUK & Standing for Women, among others. These were being secretly screenshot by an ex colleague who then sent these to Social Work England, claiming that the posts were from groups who were discriminatory in nature, transphobic and who wanted to remove trans rights.

SWE decided that this was the case and sanctioned her, leading her employer to investigate her for gross misconduct. They placed a public Fitness to practice warning sanction on her record for a year. She has been suspended by her employer as a result of Social Work England's decision and will be facing a disciplinary process which she has been told may end in her dismissal.

She is taking both Social Work England and her employer to a tribunal; this is a really important case as if she wins, it will clarify in law that not only are employers bound to protect gender critical beliefs under EA2010, but Regulatory bodies are bound by it too.

This will mean that all regulatory bodies will have to recognise that the gender critical beliefs of their registrants/members are protected in law. This will cover social work, healthcare & law as well as any other areas covered by regulatory bodies so will have far reaching effects.

I have heard that she may be setting up a crowdfunder but obviously this is not the place to advertise that, but if people wish to donate should be easy to find.
Just saw that the Times have covered this too.

twitter.com/EmilieCCole/status/1481638709724270593?s=20

I shall chip in for this on Friday.

Maya's result is encouragement to me that investing money in these actions is worth it.

We shouldn’t jump to conclusions. Maybe the bundle is just particularly difficult to nail down in this case too.

We shouldn’t jump to conclusions. Maybe the bundle is just particularly difficult to nail down in this case too.

Maybe the ability to restore trains and the like does not fit one for organising papers, timelines, tying ribbons and so forth? Had the skills been those of trainspotting, the outcome of the bundles might plausibly be very different.

Bump.

Come on now, numbers are hard.

(I mean, when I worked for the CPS I managed a team of admin officers on c.£17k each who cou

Grrr…who could get it right first time, but not everyone has those skills.)

So, does that mean there is a definition of transphobia in the context of social work?

And, just so I understand the lunacy this is because of comments Rachael made on her private social media?

Fucking hell.

<plants furiously>

Maya’s result should have given them food for thought, its certainly reaffirmed how well the seeds can grow with a bit of nurturing

Another Social Worker here (not currently working) - this needs to go to tribunal, Social workers need to feel safe to be able to speak out on safeguarding vulnerable women and children. We need to know that SWE are critically analysing information and are not being indoctrinated by any political group, that they are unbiased and impartial. Rachel needs more help with gardening. Please plant if you can - every little helps. :)

bump please could do with a lot more carrots and parsnips, peas etc

Bumping again.

I thought I would paste across the most recent update (24 june) just so people can see where the case is at. She is being messed around.

"Work disciplinary hearing on 28th June

Just a quick update to let you now what has been happening and due to all the delays detailed below to once again ask for any further shares / donations so I can continue to fight and fund my legal costs which have now been drained.

Social Work England (SWE) hearing -

They were meant to provide me with their case evidence against me for the fitness to practice hearing at the beginning of June, which they didn't. They then stated they would supply it by 24th June (which they have not) and have now have said that it will be by provided by the16th July.
The date for the fitness to practice hearing is not yet arranged, (they had previously stated would take place probably in August / September). It is incredibly exasperating as SWE could have avoided this costly and distressing process by after admitting they had made mistakes. Simply
reviewed their decision and agreed there was no further need for an investigation or any sanctions. As a professional body I'm really not sure what they hope to gain other than to silence any other social workers by making an example
of me.

Westminster City Council (WCC) Work disciplinary hearing-

I was to have my hearing on 23rd May but it was postponed at the last minute due to WCC having to look over all my submissions prior to the hearing.
It was rearranged for 28th June and to date is still going ahead

Employment Tribunal-

No update - still set for December"

Shoved a few 🥕🥕🥕 into the ground.
This really does need to go forward. Maya has won but it is a win that needs reinforcing.

It is incredibly exasperating as SWE could have avoided this costly and distressing process by after admitting they had made mistakes. Simply
reviewed their decision and agreed there was no further need for an investigation or any sanctions.

I said on the previous page that I thought she was pursuing a high risk strategy. I really wonder about the quality of legal advice she is receiving, because there was no realistic possibility of SWE saying "Ohhh oops, we shouldn't have investigated this" when the case examiners had sent it forward for a full hearing. It just was not going to happen. I assumed that, when she applied for the agreed outcome with the case examiners to be put aside that she realised that that meant a full hearing was inevitable, but it appears that that isn't the case.

I do hope she knows what she's doing

Donated. Good luck Rachel 🙂

Maya Forstetter was essentially penalised because she demanded the right to be rude to other people with no consequences ie the right to describe them as male/female according to her perspective rather than theirs, with impunity.

Is that right.

I know, such nonsense.

Also, why isn't it considered rude to demand that other people describe trans people as male/female according to their perspective, rather than the other persons. They never think of other people's right to say the truth that's in front of them. Why should we have to capitulate to their self image? I for one think it's rude to impose my self belief on others and demand they play along.

Bump for this thread, as Rachel has posted she is in need of more carrots

Update – hearing dates
I finally have confirmed dates for the Fitness to Practice hearing that Social Work England are pursuing against me for sharing what they allege are discriminatory posts on my closed Facebook page. It will take place from October 17th to 21st 2022.

Social Work England (SWE) is the regulatory body governing social work. I am hoping that my fitness to practice case will make them realize that my views are common place, worthy of respect and that regulatory bodies have obligations under the Equality Act. It could have a huge impact on the way that similar vexatious cases are dealt with, against anyone else who works for a regulated profession.

bumpette

Will look for Rachel's garden in the morning - thanks for the reminders.

A bit of compost delivered.

This.

Just done a teeny bit of digging - Rachel's garden is nearly two-thirds of the way there, but only 22 days to go.

Thanks for the bump. Will water the garden tomorrow with the £ I would have spent on Tonies chocolate, had they not been captured also.

"not only are employers bound to protect gender critical beliefs under EA2010"

I hear this all the time on Twitter anytime someone has been fired from their job or charged by police. People can believe anything they want, I think that's always been well established. It's how people go about expressing their beliefs I believe is the problem.