Social Work England

1 EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNALS Claimant: Ms A Arkorful Respondent: Social Work England Heard at: East London Hearing Centre (remotely by video) On: 22 January 2026 Before: Employment Judge C Porter (sitting alone) Representation: For the Claimant: In person For the Respondent: Mr C McDevitt, counsel JUDGMENT The judgment of the tribunal is that the claim is struck out on the grounds that the tribunal has no jurisdiction to hear the claim. REASONS Issues to be determined 1. At the outset it was confirmed that hearing had been listed to determine the application of the respondent that the claim should be struck out on the grounds that: 1.1. The tribunal had no jurisdiction to hear the claim; or 1.2. The claim had no reasonable prospect of success. 2 Orders 2. It was agreed and ordered that the tribunal would deal firstly with the issue as to whether the tribunal has jurisdiction to hear the claim. The judge stressed that in making this determination the tribunal would not hear any evidence relating to, or make any decision on, the substantive merits of the claim. Evidence 3. No evidence was heard. 4. Each party relied upon their own bundle of documents. There was a delay to the proceedings while these were uploaded to the tribunal’s DUC system and copies provided to the judge. The claimant confirmed that she had paper copies of the bundles in front of her. References to page numbers in these Reasons are references to the page numbers in the respondent’s Bundle. (RB) Submissions 5. As this was the respondent’s application its submissions were heard first. Counsel for the respondent relied upon the written application for strike out set out in its email dated 19 July 2024 (RB58) and its Grounds of Resistance. In addition, counsel made a number of detailed oral submissions which the tribunal has considered with care but does not...