Invisible No More? Including Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People in Social Work and Social Care

Abstract

Until recently, lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people were invisible users of social care; this paper provides an overview of the social and political context which led to this neglect. With the introduction of legislation in 2007 which prohibited discrimination in service provision and increasingly liberal social attitudes, this previously hidden population is more likely to disclose their sexual orientation to providers and to expect equal treatment in their receipt of services. Furthermore, the new policy agenda for adult social care — the personalisation of services — means that users and carers will have more choice about personally tailored services and control in how they are delivered. Care Matters: Time for Change 2007 has emphasised the importance of education in securing looked after children's life opportunities and has identified a key role for social care workers in children's achievement. Yet LGB children continue to face homophobic bullying in schools with the potential risk to their educational attainment and self esteem. These agendas require that service providers know about the issues and concerns of LGB service users and have an understanding about their experiences of care services. This paper identifies a number of good practice initiatives in LGB social care and outlines recommendations for providing appropriate care.

Keywords:

• improving services
• sexual orientation
• policy
• personalisation
• Every Child Matters

Acknowledgements

This paper is based on a presentation to the Sexuality in Social Work and Social Care Conference, Salford University, 19 October 2007 and research seminars at Sheffield Hallam University and De Montfort University. I would like to thank participants for their feedback.

Notes

1. This overview has not included trans people. This is because there is considerably less research into their experiences of social care and the decision was taken to avoid creating the impression that more work has been undertaken than is the case.

2. Lesbians were not included in the legislation and were considered ‘invisible women’ (Weeks 1979, 85).

3. Section 28 of the 1988 Local Government Act stated

A Local Authority shall not:

1. intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality;

2. promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship;

Nothing above shall be taken to prohibit the doing of anything for the purpose of treating or preventing the spread of disease. (Office of Public Sector Information undated)

4. The 1989 Education Act had taken education outside of the control of local authorities. Even though Section 28 did not apply in schools, the climate was such that schools and teachers felt constrained by the legislation's provisions.

5. Overall, Tatchell estimated that 20 pieces of legislation, ‘explicitly or by omission’, discriminated against LGB people (cited in Logan et al. 1996, 15).

6. R. (on the application of SSG) vs. Liverpool City Council (1), Secretary of State for Health (2) and LS (Interested Party), 22 October 2002.

7. The newsletter is available from the Alzheimers Society website.

8. ‘A Life in a Day’, a conference for improving services for LGBT people, held on 5 June 2008 discussed these issues (Leicester Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Centre 2008).

9. Details available from Navajo (2006) website.