The hospice is delighted to be working alongside Derbyshire LGBT+ towards Rainbow Accreditation to ensure inclusive practices to support all staff members, patients, supporters and visitors.
Laura and Rebecca from the hospice with Ian Robson, CEO of Derbyshire LGBT+
The hospice is committed to welcoming people from all backgrounds and walks of life to access services, fundraise, volunteer or become a staff member at the hospice.
The team recognises though, that historically, people from LGBT+ communities have experienced discrimination and inequality within healthcare and at their places of work.
Recent research by Hospice UK* cited a national Government survey with more than 108,000 responses of LGBT people: ‘At least 16% of survey respondents who accessed or tried to access public health services had a negative experience because of their sexual orientation, and at least 38% had a negative experience because of their gender identity.’
Safe environment for everyone
Laura Savile, HR Manager at Blythe House and Helen’s Trust, said: ‘We are committed to delivering services which are inclusive to all communities and to have a hospice environment that is safe and healthy for everyone including staff, volunteers, supporters, patients and their loved ones.
‘The thorough Rainbow Accreditation framework gives us the opportunity to look at every department across the hospice, from clinical services and patient care to fundraising events, volunteering and our high street shops. It’s a chance for us to analyse gaps, identify obstacles and areas for development on our accreditation journey.
‘We’re so pleased to be working with Derbyshire LGBT+ to achieve and embed inclusive practices at all levels of the hospice, including training sessions for colleagues; using pronouns in our email signatures and on lanyards, and liaising with local LGBT+ organisations to provide information about our services and volunteering opportunities.’
Never more needed
John Yates-Harold, Project Officer at Derbyshire LGBT+, said: ‘A lot of people ask why there is still a need for LGBT support in these times. They assume that things are now great for LGBT people in the UK. Our experience however is the complete opposite. Statistics show us that over the last few years hate crime against LGBT people has dramatically risen, bullying in schools is still a major problem, and we still face inequality in goods and services. Every day we have people coming for support with a whole range of issues. Our service is needed now as much as it has ever been.
‘We are proud to work with the wonderful staff at Blythe House and Helen’s Trust who have joined the growing number of organisations across Derbyshire and surrounding counties as part of our accreditation scheme. Being a member of our accreditation scheme ensures that LGBT+ communities have access to appropriate care and support from staff who understand and appreciate the specific needs of our communities. We are very pleased to promote the work of Blythe House and Helen’s Trust and will be able to confidently signpost LGBT+ people to them for support.’
The hospice joins other local organisations on the journey to Rainbow Accreditation including Derbyshire Constabulary, Citizens Advice Derbyshire Districts, East Midlands Ambulance Service and Derbyshire County Council.
Find out more about the Derbyshire LGBT+ Rainbow Accreditation programme.
