A social worker who faced disciplinary action following complaints about her gender critical beliefs will be awarded over £50,000.
The regulator Social Work England said that Rachel Meade had shared content online that amounted to ‘a pattern of discriminatory behaviour’ against the transgender community.
In light of this finding, Westminster City Council suspended Meade and started a disciplinary investigation.
However, in January an employment tribunal ruled that Meade’s posts fell 'within her protected rights for freedom of thought and freedom to manifest her beliefs’ under the Equality Act 2010.
The tribunal has now ordered Social Work England and Westminster City Council to pay nearly £53,000 in damages.
A Westminster City Council spokesperson said: ‘We have apologised to Rachel Meade and the points which emerged during the tribunal and remedy hearing are an important and helpful guide in clarifying what is acknowledged to be a rapidly evolving area of employment law.’
Colum Conway, chief executive of Social Work England, commented: ‘We are considering the outcome of the remedy judgment against Social Work England. We are committed to learning from this case.’
