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

As far as I remember there were two issues.

Wasn't RM facing sanctions from SWE and also her LA employer.

Looks like SWE have folded, but it's not clear if her employer (was it Westminster? Can't recall the LA) has also.

She might still be facing disciplinary from them.

Anyone have any thoughts/info?

I’m sure I read that the employment tribunal starts on 1 December but I can’t remember where I read that. I’ll have a look for the link.

It was on the tribunal tweet thread linked by pp. mobile.twitter.com/tribunaltweets/status/1580550924388356098

Thanks Holby

Updates from Sarah Philimore (representing RM) on EBSWA website.

www.ebswa.org/post/response-of-rachel-meade-to-swe-application-to-discontinue-its-case-in-full?postId=b5e7c644-a56d-4378-bcc6-77c61f849d4a&utm_campaign=b4499b0f-4a75-47a6-a13e-7ce22cd42260&utm_source=so&utm_medium=mail&utm_content=9a434d20-d076-4310-bcab-e49a16ea806c&cid=e7496ab8-edb8-459a-b658-b6aa562911d5

and www.ebswa.org/post/submission-in-review-hearing-of-swe-decision-to-sanction-social-worker-for-gender-critical-views?postId=95a62a43-cc4a-484d-950e-2b23c5a9df84&utm_campaign=d1a74340-2f86-4524-9820-c511aa1bc7fe&utm_source=so&utm_medium=mail&utm_content=bcfe71dc-ce84-4e58-b3de-1e409471a283&cid=e7496ab8-edb8-459a-b658-b6aa562911d5

Sarah puts all the concerns and reasons why this case should still be heard brilliantly.

My favourite part: f.
SWE have asserted in terms in the July 2022 statement of case, that the impact of a GRC is to change the holder’s ‘biological sex’ and implied that people who do not accept this are therefore to be criticised. As a matter of urgency, SWE are asked to explain if it still holds this belief, to set out the reasons for it and to confirm if registered social workers are expected to hold this belief.

Thank you Sarah

And Rachel!

Have just read Sarah's updates. What a fucking shambles.

I bumped into a senior employment lawyer last night. He presumably was not the only one in his profession to be following Tribunal Tweets yesterday. He thought Sarah Philimore was doing well.

The more cases like this the more employment lawyers and HR professionals will understand the need to be careful with EDI policies. It is not just something to be left to some sort of LGBT+ group within the organisation, supported by some advice/training from Stonewall/Mermaids/GI etc. There are laws which are ignored at an employers peril.

Thanks for the discussion.

sarahphillimore.substack.com/p/social-work-england-and-its-views?sd=pf

Thanks for the link - an excellent summary by SP. A shame that the discontinuation was allowed - I'm struggling to see how it was decided that the information was "new".

The Employment Tribunal is going to be one to watch and I can't see SWE or Westminster Council coming out of it very well.

Thanks Spero. So presumably because they haven’t admitted any cock up has taken place they could still come for her on a similar basis at a later date? Does the previous warning on her record stand?

Rachel has got a hearing on the 1st of December - she needs another 30 000 carrotts please allotmenteer generously.

Bumping again as it's payday for lots of people. I'm off to plant some veg.

bumpette

Update from Rachel Meade

I will be in the London Central Employment tribunal in less than 2 weeks - Please help me get there by donating.
My gender critical discrimination case against Social Work England and my employer will be held at the employment tribunal between 1- 8th December 2022!
I still need to raise money too fund legal fees so if you can afford to contribute that would be great and I would be really grateful if you share the crowd funder son your social media so I can get the message out.
Thanks so much for your support.-
Rachel

Bump for veg gardening. Lovely day for it!

bump

Pay day is coming up, am planning my gardening and doing a little bump to remind me.

I just started a thread with the how to observe email instructions etc if anyone wants to watch.