Perry Manor pilots LGBT+ awareness training

Home news

Mar 25, 2019

Perry Manor has piloted an LGBT+ awareness training session as part of its ongoing commitment to equality and diversity upskilling.

Katherine Matthews, home manager of the Perry Manor, which is rated ‘Outstanding’ by CQC, explains why the pilot was organised: 

“With key members of the team at the home being in their 20s, 30s and 40s, caring for residents in their 80s and 90s, we have quite a unique set of cross-generational diversity needs. The sessions were designed to provide our younger colleagues with some historical context of LGBT issues, outlining some of the realities that were faced by LGBT people born before 1950, along with support on how to create an open, LGBT-friendly environment for residents and their families today.”

The Perry Manor team partnered with specialists at Age UK to host the highly reflective and discursive session, which also welcomed members of the local LGBT community from Out2gether, to discuss their own experiences. Such valuable insight is actively shaping recommendations for ongoing team training, to robustly promote equality, ensure the workplace is free from discrimination and discreetly and sensitively include sexuality, identity and LGBT issues into the home’s ongoing care plans. 

Katherine concludes: 

“We were delighted to be part of such a significant training pilot; the team found it extremely powerful and a helpful first step in our ongoing journey towards being a truly LGBT+ friendly home.”