The social care system needs to improve how it cares for LGBTQ+ young people in residential and foster homes, University of Birmingham researchers say.
A new study has revealed that LGBTQ+ young people face significant health, mental health and well-being inequalities compared to their non-LGBTQ+ peers, while living in foster and residential care.
These inequalities ranged from discrimination from professionals to more placement moves, according to the research. LGBTQ+ young people also spend more time in care compared to other young people.
‘Our research showed that LGBTQ+ young people in care experience discrimination and rejection because of their LGBTQ+ status,’ said Dr Jason Schaub, who led the study.
‘It is a key factor in their social care support which is supposed to protect them. The system does not care for these young people effectively which can cause harm to their mental and physical wellbeing.’
The study also revealed that trans and nonbinary young people, those from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds, and lesbian and bisexual girls all face much higher levels of discrimination and victimisation whilst living in social care settings.
Many social workers do not feel confident or knowledgeable enough to support LGBTQ+ young people, according to the researchers. Many feel they do not have the necessary skills or training, especially for transgender and nonbinary young people in care.
Dr Schaub continued: ‘A significant concern from our study is that this population is nearly invisible in our social care system. There is very little research on LGBTQ+ specific policies and a significant lack of education on best practices to support these young people.
‘This study is the first of its kind to focus exclusively on LGBTQ+ young people in foster and residential care health and wellbeing experiences, and a lot more work is needed to fully understand these problems and experiences.’
The researchers urged the Government to introduce policy changes, such as forbidding discrimination of LGBTQ+ young people and offering practical recommendations for foster parents and other caregivers.
