High Court grant further SWE interim orders

In Social Work England v Larman [2025] EWHC 1089 (Admin), Social Work England sought to extend an interim conditions-of-practice order imposed on registered social worker Althea Larman to “protect the public and ensure proper safeguarding of vulnerable individuals”.

Initially established in December 2021 and subsequently extended on three occasions—with the most recent order set to expire on 16 May 2025—the regulator argued that Larman’s conduct, which included serious allegations of failing to safeguard a vulnerable child and deficiencies in key areas such as record keeping and training in safeguarding, continued to pose a real risk of harm to service users.

The court, after considering the evidence and submissions from both sides—including the regulator’s difficulty in progressing the case due to procedural delays beyond its control—determined that the gravity of the allegations and the ongoing risk justified an extension of the interim order.

Additionally, the court approved a measure requiring that any non-party applications for disclosure of documents be made on 14 days’ notice to protect sensitive information. Balancing the potential prejudice to Larman against the need to safeguard the public, the judge ruled to extend the interim conditions-of-practice order until 15 February 2026, with the expectation that the case would be conclusively dealt with by that date.

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