Working Positively with Sexuality and Difference

This one day course is designed for all staff working in diverse settings. Its core aim is to support learners to work in positive and affirming ways with Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual  service users. In doing so, it aims to explore issues of Homophobia and Heterosexism on personal, interpersonal, institutional and cultural levels; how these issues impact practice and how they can be challenged.

Participants will be encouraged to critically explore their own attitudes to Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual  people and to Homophobia and Heterosexism. They will also be encouraged to make links to other forms of discrimination including Racism, Sexism, and Ablism. Participants will also be able to explore practical steps that can be taken in the work place to proactively reach out to people.

The course will be set within the context of the orgnaisation’s Diversity policies.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course participants should understand:

• What is meant by Homophobia and Heterosexism
• The various forms of Homophobia and Heterosexism
• Language that is inclusive to Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual people
• The importance of anti-discriminatory practice when working with service users
• How we all have very personal views on ‘other’ groups of people:
        -Some of them being positive
        -Some being negative
        -Some of them being based on lack of information
        -Some of them based on prejudice & assumptions
• How our upbringing, culture and religion may have predetermined prejudicial views of people with ‘different’ sexuality
• How we might unconsciously hold negative views
• How our negative views are incompatible with social care values as well as the values and Diversity policy of
  the organisation
• How we can ‘work’ on our prejudices
• How Homophobia and Heterosexism can ‘act out’ in practice and breach service user’s rights
• How risks may be exacerbated by Homophobia and Heterosexism
• Ways of challenging Homophobia and Heterosexism in the workplace and in practice situations
• Ways of positively supporting people:
        -People are people first
        -People has individual needs
        -People need to be treated with respect and acceptance
        -People need to be valued
        -People need equal access to services
        -People need positive affirmation
• Information/resources that can be used to further learning
• Information and resources to support service users

Learning Methods:

•  Warm ups and icebreakers
•  Case studies
•  Handouts
•  Small group work
•  PowerPoint
•  Discussion
•  Tutor presentations
•  Chalk & talk
•  Questionnaire

CP40/4.9