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Everything you always
wanted to know about sexual
orientation monitoring…
Implementing sexual orientation monitoring in
the voluntary and community sector
Valeska Matziol
Policy & Research Coordinator
The Lesbian & Gay Foundation
North West
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“Over the last two decades, the lesbian, gay and bisexual
(LGB) community has seen legislative change which has
led to greater acceptance. However, there is still a huge
lack of evidence about LGB people, our needs and
experiences. Monitoring sexual orientation is a proven way
to address that lack of evidence”
-Paul Martin OBE, The Lesbian & Gay Foundation
Why Sexual Orientation
Monitoring?
North West
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“These days we take it for granted that organisations will
analyse the gender, age, race or ethnicity, and disability
status of staff and service users. We accept being asked
because we understand how it can improve what the
NHS does. The same goes for understanding who people
love and live their lives with. Understanding that is pretty
fundamental to understanding their lives and health”
- Christine Burns MBE, NHS North West
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Identifying a need
• Research conducted across Greater Manchester public sector
organisations monitoring staff and service users to identify
current
monitoring practice and information use
• Key findings:
– Staff monitored, but service user monitoring less
comprehensive
and consistent
– Sexual orientation monitoring often a recent development
– Lack of specific staff training
– Low response rates: 68% average response rate and average
of
1.6% LGB staff
– Gaps around confidentiality and staff understanding of
monitoring
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• Workbook developed with expert consultative panel
• Built around case studies of real life examples
• Aimed at increasing awareness of the need and knowledge of
best practice
• Available in a variety of formats
• Promotion across the NHS and public sector
Developing the workbook
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Policy Drivers
North West
• Equality Act 2010: Public Sector Equality Duty
– eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation;
– tackle prejudice and promote understanding;
– advance equality of opportunity;
– remove or minimise disadvantages that are connected to a
particular characteristic;
– take steps to meet the needs of people who share a
protected
characteristic, based on real life experience and evidence
of
need
• Equality Delivery System (EDS) – relevant for NHS
organisations
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Benefits for VCS Organisations
North West
• Increases workforce satisfaction and productivity as well
as
employee retention
• Helps to identify and reduce access barriers for LGB
volunteers and
service users
• Improves services by making sure they are tailored to LGB
service
users’ needs
• Makes organisations more competitive in the context of public
sector
commissioning of services from the VCS
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What barriers to implementing
sexual orientation monitoring have
you encountered in your
organisation?
North West
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How could you use this information
to improve service design and
delivery?
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Action plans: how can you take
sexual orientation monitoring
forward in your organisation?
North West
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Thank you!
[email protected]
08453 30 30 30
www.lgf.org.uk/policy-research/SOM
North West
