LGBTQ+ Inclusive Home Care Provision

Research Question What is the current preparedness of the home care workforce in England and Wales to support older (aged 60+) LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer) people, and what is needed to improve their preparedness? Background Older LGBTQ+ people face significant barriers and inequalities when engaging with social care. Care providers severely neglect LGBTQ+ identities and relationships and disregard their relevance for meeting care needs. Many care workers lack the skills and confidence to provide LGBTQ+ inclusive care. Consequently, older LGBTQ+ people are hesitant to access services and have poorer health outcomes. There are at least 1 million LGBTQ+ people over 60 in England and Wales, so this issue affects a large group of people. Research on older LGBTQ+ people s experiences of social care and workforce preparedness to support this population has thus far focussed on residential care and supported housing. There is a lack of research on the experiences of older LGBTQ+ people receiving home care, and the preparedness of the home care workforce to support them. At the same time, there has been a policy shift towards increased home-based care provision. It is important to address this knowledge gap to ensure that older LGBTQ+ people s experiences of home care are recognised, and the home care workforce is adequately skilled to provide inclusive care. Aims & Objectives This mixed-methods study aims to examine the current knowledge levels and training provision on LGBTQ+ inclusion in the home care workforce, and to identify improvements and how these could be addressed. Methods This study consists of four work packages (WP). In WP1, we will conduct a rapid review to examine the current research base on the preparedness of the home care workforce to support older LGBTQ+ people. In WP2, we will conduct a survey of the home care workforce (managers and frontline staff) to assess their confidence, knowledge, and training experience on LGBTQ+ inclusion. We will also conduct in-depth interviews with a subset of the survey sample. In WP3, we will examine the experiences of older LGBTQ+ people receiving home care by interviewing older LGBTQ+ people and their partners. They can also opt for letter writing instead of an interview. WP4 focuses on dissemination, working with sector partners, and the set-up of a steering committee and public advisory group. Timelines for Delivery 27 months from 1 June 2025. Anticipated Impact and Dissemination Dissemination of findings will be supported by leading sector partners we are collaborating with: The Homecare Association, Skills for Care, and Social Care Wales. They have direct links with home care providers, and they will help us co-produce practice-focused resources. We will also produce a short film, and pen portraits to highlight the experiences of older LGBTQ+ people. We will present findings at academic conferences and practice-oriented events. We anticipate that this project will raise awareness amongst the home care workforce on the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusion. Longer-term, this project will form a foundation for a future feasibility study testing a training intervention for the home care workforce.