Transcript www.lgbt-training.org.uk

‘Delivering Equality’
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGB&T)
Module 6: Monitoring LGB&T
Monitoring Programme
1. Aims
9. Mind our Language
2. Background
10. Tips
3. Monitoring
11. Be Prepared
4. What Monitoring Is/Isn’t
12. Why are you asking these
questions?
5. Why Monitor
13. What else can I do?
6. What to Monitor
14. Resources
7. Using the Data
15. Conclusion
8. How to ask the questions
16. Contact Us
Aims
• To understand why monitoring people’s gender identity
and/or sexual orientation is important
• To understand how to ask people their gender identity
and/or sexual orientation
• What can be done to encourage disclosure of gender
identity and/or sexual orientation
• To feel comfortable and confident in asking people their
gender identity and/or sexual orientation
Background
In April 2012, NHS Somerset and Somerset LINk
jointly commissioned the Diversity Trust to find out
about the experiences and views of LGBT people of
health and social care in Somerset.
In particular, they wanted to hear about the stories,
both positive and negative, LGBT people in Somerset
had to tell about accessing and receiving health and
social care.
The research was carried out throughout the county
between April and October 2012.
The training and associated modules were developed
as a result of the research.
Monitoring LGB&T
• People need to be comfortable and
understand the reasons why the data is
being collected
• If people are not comfortable about asking
the question, this will be conveyed to the
person they are asking
• The key is to focus on the fact that having
the data helps improve the services the
organisation provides
What is/isn’t Monitoring?
Monitoring is:
• The confidential collection of data about
people to ensure everyone is receiving the
best possible services and that changes
are made where necessary
Monitoring isn’t:
• The collection of personal information that
is collected to be nosey, and is shared and
made public
Why Monitor?
• Monitoring staff, job applicants and
service users on the grounds of gender,
ethnicity and disability has been an
integral part of the work of the public
sector for many years
Why Monitor?
• Just like everyone else, Lesbian, Gay and
Bisexual and Trans people should be
protected from harassment and
discrimination and should have full access
to services and appropriate care. But only
by asking people about their gender
identity and sexual orientation can
organisations measure the progress
they're making to tackle inequalities
Why Monitor?
• Monitoring gender identity and sexual
orientation helps organisations identify,
tackle and prevent discrimination against
Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual and Trans
people, which can undermine the quality
of care they receive
Why Monitor?
• Monitoring also provides a means of
evaluating whether progress is being
made, and can provide information about
the next steps needed to tackle
discrimination
Why Monitor?
• Actively identify areas where
discriminatory practices might be
occurring and proactively address those
problems
• Minimise the incidents of discrimination
• Track improvements in service delivery
What to Monitor
•
•
•
•
•
•
Assessment forms
Registrations and records
Consultation responses
Feedback forms
Complaints
Grievances
Using the Data
The data is collected to find out:
• Who is and who isn’t using services
• If certain groups are experiencing poorer
health outcomes or poor treatment
• To access improvement when changes are
made to tackle the above
• All data is collected confidentially and all
data will be protected in accordance with
the principles of the Data Protection Act
1998
How to ask the questions
Gender Identity (3 options)
(Option 1)
What is your gender?
• Male
• Female
• Other gender identity (please state)
• Prefer not to say
(Option 2)
Is your gender identity the same as the gender you were assigned at
birth?
• Yes
• No
• Prefer not to say
How to ask the questions
Gender Identity
(Option 3)
Do you, or have you ever, identified as Trans or
Transgender?
• Yes
• No
• Other/Please explain your answer if you wish to:
• Prefer not to say
How to ask the questions
Sexual Orientation
What is your sexual orientation?
• Lesbian/Gay woman
• Gay man
• Bisexual woman
• Bisexual man
• Heterosexual woman
• Heterosexual man
• Other
• Prefer not to say
The Office of National Statistics has found that if the sexual orientation
question is asked before asking about someone’s religion or belief, the
disclosure rate of sexual orientation is higher, without affecting religion or
belief disclosure rates
Mind our Language
• Inappropriate language can create a
further barrier to Lesbian, Gay and
Bisexual and Trans people feeling
comfortable to disclose their gender
identity or sexual orientation
• Avoid ‘Homosexual’ (as it pathologises)
• ‘Prefer not to say’ and ‘other’ – do not
assume Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Trans
Tips
• Ask the questions neutrally (with no judgement) in a
professional and matter of fact way
• Taking part in monitoring is optional (applies to all
monitoring)
• Provide information on why the information being
collected is important for the organisation
• Update on the data protection policy and use of data
policy
Be Prepared
Here are some responses you may get:
• What is sexual orientation?
• What is heterosexual?
• That’s none of your business!
• Why are you asking me who I sleep with?
• ‘I’m normal mate’
• I don’t understand the question…
Why are you asking these
questions?
• We are asking about gender identity and sexual
orientation because we need to know if Lesbian, Gay ,
Bisexual and Trans people are using the service
• Being Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual is when you are attracted
to, or have relationships with people of the same sex
• Being straight, or heterosexual, is when you are
attracted to, or have relationships with people of the
opposite sex
• Being Trans, sometimes Transgender, is an umbrella
term for people whose gender identity and/or gender
expression diverges in some way from the sex they were
assigned at birth
What else can I do?
• Improving disclosure of gender identity and
sexual orientation won’t happen overnight,
changing the culture takes time…
• But there are things you can do to help
• Display clear policies on confidentiality and nondiscrimination which explicitly mention gender
identity and sexual orientation
• Put up posters with images of same-sex couples
and Trans women and men with messages that
are relevant to LGB&T people (make sure
language in all communication is inclusive)
Resources
Stonewalls ‘What’s it Got to Do With You’
enables organisations to explain why it’s
important to take part in monitoring,
including gender identity and sexual
orientation monitoring, and to support
individuals in doing so.
You can download a PDF here
http://www.stonewall.org.uk/at_home/3460.asp
Conclusion
Monitoring allows us to:
• Understand potential barriers to services
• Ensure appropriate services are developed
• Look at inequalities between different groups – e.g.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans communities
• Improve the way in which we meet the needs of all
service users
• Measure performance, improvement and change
• Improve processes to tackle problems
Contact Us
• Phone 0844 800 4425
• Email [email protected]
• Website www.diversitytrust.org.uk
• Facebook
http://facebook.com/DiversityTrust
• Twitter http://twitter.com/DiversityTrust