- Conference
- 2022 Community Conference and Seminar
- Date
- 25 November 2021
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes the Tory government, has broken manifesto pledges by raising National Insurance contributions and suspending the ‘triple lock’ on pension increases. On 7th September 2021, it published ‘Build Back Better: Our plan for health and social care’ announcing an impending White Paper on the future provision of adult social care in England.
Conference acknowledges that there is roughly a fifty/fifty split in the numbers of adults receiving social care between those who are retired and those of working age. There will be a significant number of LGBT+ people who need or will need access to adult social care. Some will be disabled and/or retired LGBT+ UNISON Community Service Group members.
Conference notes that a motion was passed at the 2017 National LGBT Conference which highlighted a lack of LGBT awareness within the care sector and called on the national LGBT committee to engage with regions and service groups to identify what care provisions existed for older LGBT people in their areas. This motion made specific reference to the Equality Act 2010 requirements for service providers of social care not to discriminate against service users on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. These provisions apply equally to intersectional LGBT+ users of adult social care of working age.
Conference further notes LGBT+ charity Opening Doors London’s research into the housing and care needs of LGBT+ people which found a preference for LGBT+ organisations or LGBT+ accredited organisations to provide accommodation, care and support.
Opening Doors London runs the Pride in Care® quality standard awarded to United Kingdom organisations assessed as providing quality care and support to older LGBT+ people. Championed by Care England and with training endorsed by Skills for Care, the registered quality mark is an externally verified seal of approval publicly demonstrating commitment to the continuous improvement of LGBT+ inclusion.
Conference welcomes the continued work undertaken by the Community Service Group Executive (in collaboration with other UNISON structures) to promote UNISON’s Ethical Care Charter and to campaign for a National Care Service.
Conference further believes this work provides opportunities to bargain and campaign for LGBT+ inclusive care provision within our overall objectives of changing the landscape of adult social care throughout our nations and regions.
Conference further believes that UNISON’s response to the forthcoming White Paper on the future of adult social care should reflect the needs of LGBT+ older people recognising their diversity and intersectionality.
Conference therefore calls on the Community Service Group Executive to:
1. Liaise with the National LGBT+ Committee to identify and highlight aspects of best practice in the provision of adult social care to LGBT+ people;
2. Engage with appropriate UNISON structures to raise awareness of the needs of LGBT+ disabled and older social care users requesting that these are included in any UNISON response to the White Paper on the future of adult social care in England;
3. Continue to work with the National LGBT+ Committee to raise awareness among Community members of the Ethical Care Charter and UNISON’s campaign for a National Care Service.
4. Highlight through all appropriate media work being undertaken by specialist LGBT+ Charities in pursuit of these objectives as part of the Community Service Group’s ongoing recruitment and retention work.