Ms E Shambare v Social Work England Heard at Leeds by CVP — 2026

The claimant, Ms E Shambare, brought a single claim for unauthorised deduction of wages against Social Work England, seeking £7,000 said to relate to a period between 12 December 2024 and 2 May 2025 during which she did not practise while awaiting completion of her annual re-registration as a social worker. She had applied for re-registration on 12 December 2024, after the 30 November deadline, and it was not completed until 2 May 2025; the Tribunal also recorded that she had failed to submit a required piece of CPD.

The central issues were the identity of the claimant's employer and whether that employer owed her wages. The claimant accepted at the hearing that Social Work England was not her employer and that her employer at the material time was Manchester City Council. She maintained, however, that any loss was attributable to Social Work England rather than to Manchester City Council.

Employment Judge Shulman declined to dismiss Social Work England from the proceedings or to substitute Manchester City Council as respondent, on the basis that Manchester City Council was clearly not liable and that joining it would not advance the claimant's position. The claim for unauthorised deduction of wages was accordingly dismissed, and the Tribunal advised the claimant to take advice as to whether she might have a non-employment claim against Social Work England.