2023 sees the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) ‘strengthen’ their equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) commitments (HCPC, 2022). The expectations of registrants are now clear, but how to achieve said expectations, less so.
The number of LGBTQIA+ individuals requiring health and social care support is increasing (Lecompte et al., 2020). As part of HCPC’s (2022) updated standards in relation to EDI, the following is now expected of all registrants: “respond appropriately to the needs of all different groups and individuals in practice, recognising this can be affected by difference of any kind including, but not limited to, protected characteristics, intersectional experiences and cultural differences”. Furthermore, it calls on all registrants to ensure legal literacy surrounding protected characteristics (Equality Act, 2010) and how this applies to practice.
Whilst we can take learning from across the globe, within the UK we lack a rigorous knowledge base surrounding both the experiences and needs of the LGBTQIA+ community accessing occupational therapy services. Further research is required in this area.
You may now be asking yourself how one can practice in a non-discriminatory and inclusive (HCPC, 2022) way when working with members of the LGBTQIA+ community. But first, arguably, you would need to be able to identify when you are working with a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.
#OTalk questions:
Question one: Have you/are you currently working with the LGBTQIA+ community?
Question two: Thinking about question one, what leads you to believe/know this?
Question three: Do you routinely consider sexual orientation and/or gender identity when completing your assessments and considering interventions?
Question four: What do you feel would aid/improve your confidence/competence when working with members of the LGBTQIA+ community?
Blog written by: Rachael Daniels (on behalf of LGBQTIA+OTUK)
References
Equality Act 2010, c.15. Available at: https://legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/part/2/chapter/1… (Accessed: 06 June 2023)
Health & Care Professions Council (2022) Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Available at: https://hcpc-uk.org/standards/standards-of-proficiency/reviewing-the-standards-of-proficiency/equality-diversity-and-inclusion/… (Accessed: 06 June 2023)
Lecompte, M., Ducharme, J., Beauchamp, J., & Couture, Mélanie. (2020) ‘Inclusive Practices toward LGBT Older Adults in Healthcare and Social Services: A Scoping Review of Quantitative and Qualitative Evidence’, Clinical Gerontologist, 44, pp.1-12. doi: 10.1080/07317115.2020.186294
OTalk 