LGBTQIA+ disabled people

The aims of the study were to:

• Understand more about the specific social care needs of LGBTQI+ Disabled People and how they are, or could be, supported by adult social care professionals through self-directed social care
• Improve social care professionals’ understanding of and approaches to the social care needs of LGBTQI+ Disabled People, thereby improving outcomes for service users
• Gain insight from support workers and personal assistants (PAs) of potentially helpful and empowering ways of supporting and interacting with LGBTQI+ Disabled social care recipients and overcoming challenges or barriers.

The study involved qualitative interviews with 20 LGBTQI+ Disabled People, a focus group of PAs and a survey of 56 LGBTQI+ Disabled adults who use self-directed social care in England. Of the survey respondents:

• 53 described themselves as White, one as Indian, one as White & Asian and one didn’t leave details. Most (60%) were aged 40 or younger, 36% aged 41–60 and 4% aged over 60
  53% identified as female, 30% as male, 15% as non-binary
• 34% as lesbian/gay woman, 26% as a gay man, 32% as bisexual
• 20% identified as trans
• Respondents could multi-select from eight options to describe their disability/impairment: ‘mobility impairment’ was most commonly selected (33%), followed by ‘long-term health impairment’ (22%), ‘cognitive impairment’ (14%) and ‘mental health difficulties’ (13%).

Full report – LGBTQI+* Disabled People and self-directed social care support

• LGBTQI+ Disabled People who use self-directed support reported many positives from having more choice, control and power
• Concerns included: coming out to social care staff jeopardising support; difficulties in recruiting and retaining good PAs; difficulties in securing support for `social hours’ leading to social isolation; and reactions of other people
• Assessments should emphasise the whole person, not ignore sexual orientation or gender identity. Staff should draw on their professional training, ethical practice and legal obligations to raise equalities issues confidently and sensitively
• There is a need for more targeted support and information for LGBTQI+ Disabled People as well as more information for their PAs.