Vindicated! Social worker in gender row wins £58,000
A SOCIAL worker suspended over her belief that a person cannot change their sex has been awarded damages of nearly £58,000 after winning a landmark harassment claim.
Rachel Meade was given a warning by Social Work England after a 2020 probe into a complaint about posts she made or liked on Facebook.
She was then suspended by Westminster City Council and bosses began a disciplinary investigation, warning her she could be fired for misconduct.
Ms Meade was given a final written warning after a year-long suspension in which she claims she was ‘ bullied into silence’ when trying to ‘speak up for women’s rights’ during the consultation on reform to the Gender Recognition Act.
An employment tribunal called for both the council and the watchdog Social Work England to train staff in the principles of freedom of speech. Lawyers described the awarding of exemplary damages against a regulator as ‘unprecedented’.
Ms Meade, 55, of Dartford, Kent, said she was delighted with the ruling after ‘a long and dreadful experience’.
She told The Times she felt ‘vindicated and liberated’ that ‘justice and freedom of speech has prevailed’.
Ms Meade, a social worker of 20 years, sued the council and Social Work England in 2022. In January, a judge ruled both had subjected her to harassment over her gender-critical beliefs.
Judge Richard Nicolle said the watchdog’s actions amounted to a ‘serious abuse of its power’. The regulator’s chief, Colum
‘Freedom of speech prevailed’
Conway, said it was considering the judgment, adding: ‘We will continue our work in this area and clearly articulate the reasons when there are reasonable grounds to investigate a social worker’s fitness to practise.’
Westminster council said it would need ‘a little time’ before responding fully to the ruling, adding: ‘We have apologised to Rachel Meade and the points which emerged... are an important and helpful guide in clarifying what is... a rapidly evolving area of employment law.’