Appropriate social care services for LGBT people depend on personalised support from providers, says CSCI
31 March 2008
One year after the introduction of a law establishing equality
in services on the grounds of sexual orientation, CSCI today
published the first in a series of three equality and diversity
good practice bulletins. These are designed to help service
providers address the new personalisation agenda set out in the
joint protocol Putting People First. The bulletin published today
builds on good practice to help social care providers make their
services appropriate for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
people, no matter what their sexual orientation.
Dame Denise Platt, CSCI Chair, said:
“Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people should feel safe,
valued and have contact with their friends and communities. All of
this is important for identity and self-esteem.
Dame Denise continued: “People can only make choices if they are
given the opportunity to direct their own care. This bulletin aims
to encourage providers to fully understand their needs, and to work
in partnership with them to achieve this.”
CSCI’s bulletin reports that 45% of lesbian, gay and bisexual
people using social care servicesservices told CSCI that they had
experienced discrimination1. Leadership in services is
needed to change the ethos: only 9%2 of registered
services say they are taking specific action on equality for
lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
The bulletin also states that services must ensure that lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender people feel welcome and able to “come
out” if they wish. Services should review publicity, policies,
assessment procedures and provide staff training on equality.
1 From CSCI survey of lesbian, gay and bisexual
people using services
2 From an analysis of 400 self-assessment
forms completed by services providers
Notes for Editors
- Download CSCI’s bulletin: Putting
people first: Equality and Diversity Matters 1 - Providing
appropriate services for lesbian, gay and bisexual and transgender
people (PDF, KB, opens in new window)
- The joint protocol Putting People First, 10 December 2007, can
be found on
the Department of Health website.
- CSCI plans to publish further bulletins on equality and
diversity matters – covering race equality and disability equality
issues – in due course.
Get
help using PDFs