Disciplinary rules and procedures: Summary dismissal unlawful

In Dietman v London Borough of Brent 3.2.88 Court of Appeal the Court of Appeal upholds the High Court's ruling that a local authority acted unlawfully when it dismissed a senior social worker for gross negligence without holding a disciplinary hearing in accordance with its disciplinary procedure.

The case concerned the dismissal of the plaintiff, Ms Dietman, from her employment as a senior social worker after an independent inquiry into the death of Jasmine Beckford, a child who was under the care of the local authority, had concluded that Ms Dietman was guilty of gross negligence.