Culturally Competent and Compassionate LGBT+ in Health and Social Care (IENE 9 National Seminar)

This is a face-to-face event at Middlesex University. The event is a Research National Seminar which will present the project aims, objectives and outputs developed so far.

The event will be divided into presentations and group discussions on the inclusion of LGBT+ issues in the health and social care curriculum.*A light breakfast, teas and coffees and lunch will be provided as well as freebies and a small gift for those attending that work in Health and Social Care Education or Practice.**This is a face-to-face live event on campus at Middlesex University.

***Face masks and/or covering will be required for the duration of the event in the classroom.

Background to the project

Evidence shows issues with professional conduct and discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT+) people in health and social care, continue to exist in the UK. This indicates the need to ensure that health and social care professional education must include exploration of LGBT+ issues, in order to enable professionals to provide culturally competent and compassionate care which is free from prejudice to this population.  

 There seems to be a lack of covering in LGBT+ health needs in the health and social care curriculum. IENE 9, an Erasmus+ funded project, adopted a mixed-method and innovative approach for gathering and developing teaching tools and resources for a more culturally competent and compassionate LGBT+ education in health and social care curricula across Europe.  

The IENE 9 project is addressing this gap in education which will improve the care provided for LGBT+ people. Specific training on LGBT+ issues may result in better knowledge and skills of the health and social care workforce, which helps to reduce inequalities and communication between providers and LGBT+ people, as well as diminishing the feelings of stigma and discrimination experienced by LGBT+ people (Carr & Pezzella, 2017; Sekoni, Gale, Manga‐Atangana, Bhadhuri, & Jolly, 2017). 

Stigma towards LGBT+ individuals cannot be eradicated overnight and shifting cultural beliefs is a slow process that requires imaginative and creative methods to encourage people to learn more about LGBT+ topics. Exposure to LGBT+ issues, through awareness workshops and campaigns, could facilitate this process. Health and social care professionals are the champions overlooking vulnerable LGBT+ people and it is vital for practitioners and educators to join hands and provide both educational material and policies to protect LGBT+ rights.