LGBT+ training for care staff aims to increase inclusion

LGBT+ training took place for several Teesside care homes – aiming to raise awareness of any potential barriers and increase inclusion.

More than a dozen staff from Ingleby Care Home, in Ingleby Barwick, Mandale House Care Home, in Thornaby, and The Beeches Care Home, in Newtown, took part.

The session was delivered by LGBT+ charity Hart Gables and their training and consultancy arm, LGBT Advance.

Andrew Towers, LGBT action development worker at Hart Gables, said: “We were delighted to visit Ingleby Care Home last week to deliver our LGBT awareness for care home staff training package to delegates from Mandale, Ingleby and The Beeches.

“The training seeks to support care staff in fostering an inclusive environment for current and prospective LGBT+ residents and staff.

“We worked with an incredible bunch of delegates and we enjoyed lots of fascinating conversation – their questions were respectful and insightful, and their enthusiasm to embrace new ways to be inclusive in their care homes was wonderful to see.”

Carol Singleton, home manager at Ingleby Care Home, said: “We are committed to social inclusion at Ingleby Care Home and the training session from Hart Gables was fantastic.

“I found the workshop really enjoyable and it has improved my understanding of some of the issues faced by members of the LGBT+ community.”

Lisa Tones, deputy manager at Mandale House Care Home, added: “One of the key points I took away from the training is that there is more that unites us than makes us different.

“I would recommend it to any employers who wanted to increase LGBT+ inclusion in their workplace or simply wants a better understanding of the issues.”