Public Training Courses 2019
Opening Doors London delivers affordable training and consultancy in the health and social care sector. ODL training provides staff, managers and volunteers with the knowledge and skills to enable LGBT+ people over 50 to live happy, healthy and independent lives that are free from loneliness, isolation, prejudice and discrimination.
Our public training courses are based on the latest policy, research and legislation, helping your team to stay abreast of current equality issues, meet best practice and improve the quality of care and support to your older LGBT+ clients and service users.
Personalising Care for Older LGBT+ ClientsThe 2014 Care Act requires health and social care professionals to address the health and care support of older LGBT+ people by tailoring services to their individual needs. But many frontline staff say they lack the knowledge, skills and experience to do this effectively. This half-day course, led by older LGBT+ health and social care professionals, explores relevant practice issues and helps staff implement inclusive care and support plans.
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“If you don’t count, we don’t count”: Monitoring LGBT+ DemographicsIt is increasingly important to funders and statutory authorities that organisations monitor the LGBT+ demographics of staff, volunteers and service users. However, enquiring into older people’s sexual orientation and gender identity requires well-chosen questions and sensitive communication to gain the answers that will be most useful for client assessment. This practical half-day course demonstrates how to establish and build rapport with older LGBT+ people, using clear questions and an empathic technique suited to collect honest and informative replies.
NEW The Social Care Needs of Older LGBT+ PeopleSocial workers have a shared commitment to promoting laws, policies and programmes that affirm, support and value LGBT+ individuals, families, and communities. Yet several recent surveys have found a lack of confidence among social workers in engaging with the needs of LGBT+ people over 50 and a lack of professional education to support them. This half-day course delivered by older LGBT+ social workers and health professionals is based around realistic social work scenarios and case studies and builds knowledge, skills and confidence in responding to the complex social care needs of this marginalised population.
NEW Skills in LGBT+ Awareness for Domiciliary Care and Care Home StaffMany staff feel that as long as they are treating people equally, understanding the lives of LGBT+ over -50s has little relevance to the quality of care provided. But research demonstrates that the difference in the lives of this marginalised and previously criminalised group of older people has significant effects on their mental health, safety and security, which those in caring roles need to be alert to if they are to comply with the 2014 Care Act and the increasingly specific requirements of new Care Quality Commission assessments. This half-day course ensures that both care home and domiciliary care staff are abreast of the current issues, meeting their legal requirements and confident providing personalised care and support to older LGBT+ people.
Safeguarding Older LGBT+ PeopleIt is easy to assume, with the recent changes in legislation, that LGBT+ people no longer experience discrimination, disrespect and prejudice. But many older LGBT+ are fearful of leaving their homes due to personal experience of bullying, harassment and physical assault. This course clarifies hate crime law and how to report concerns effectively, and promotes best practice in safeguarding older LGBT+ people.
Bereavement Support for Older LGBT+ PeoplePeople identifying as LGBT+ face additional problems when grieving, often with different care needs, resulting in heightened or prolonged bereavement. This half-day course considers the provision of bereavement support to older LGBT+ people experiencing an uncertain future, without their partner and with little family support. It explores new models of bereavement support in the light of the LGBT+ experience, sharing practical resources and sources of support for health and social care professionals.
For more information on any of the above courses or to speak with the training team about providing a course to staff at your own organisation venue please email: [email protected]
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