Social Work England -v- HH (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: AC-2026-LDS-000075

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE                                                                
KING’S BENCH DIVISION
ADMINISTRATIVE COURT AT LEEDS

IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION TO EXTEND AN INTERIM ORDER UNDER PARAGRAPH 14(2) OF SCHEDULE 2 OF THE SOCIAL WORKERS REGULATIONS 2018 (AS AMENDED)

25 March 2026

Before:

His Honour Judge Saffman

Between:

Social Work England

-v-

HH

Order

Before His Honour Judge Saffman sitting as a Judge of the High Court on 25 March 2026

UPON the Claimant’s application dated 19 March 2026

AND UPON reading those documents recorded on the Court file as having been read, including the N244 and continuation sheet dated 19 March 2026 and the witness statement dated 19 March 2026 in relation to the application for the interim order imposed on the Defendant Social Worker’s registration to be extended,

IT IS ORDERED THAT:

  1. Pursuant to CPR 39.2(3) the Hearing listed to hear the application to extend the Interim Order against the Defendant Social Worker’s professional social work registration will be held in private.
  2. Pursuant to CPR 39.2(4) there is to be no disclosure of the identity of the Defendant Social Worker and their three Children
  3. Pursuant to CPR 5.4C(2), any application to obtain documents other than the claim form, judgement or order made by a non-party under CPR 5.4C, is to be made on at least 14 days’ notice to the parties. The parties to be given the opportunity to respond to the application (including proposals for editing/ redacting sensitive content). Any person has liberty to apply in writing on notice to the parties to abridge the time for notice.
  4. There is no order as to costs.
  5. Any person affected by this order may apply to the court for it to be reconsidered provided that such application is made within 7 days of service of this order

Reasons 

  1. The court is conscious of the principle that an anonymity order is exceptional because it is a fundamental precept that the administration of justice takes place in public. An anonymity order is a derogation from the principle of open justice.
  2. The court is further conscious of the fact that an anonymity order ought not to be made merely because the parties consent to it. 
  3. In this case an anonymity order is appropriate because it is necessary to protect the interests of a children (CPR 39.2 (3))(d)).