A new study will explore how LGBTQ+ people experience difficulties interacting with social workers and are often anxious about discrimination or abuse due to their sexual or gender identity.

In collaboration with Opening Doors London and the Universities of Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol, the study will investigate how older LGBTQ+ adults have raised concerns about receiving personal care services in their homes.

However, little is known about older LGBTQ+ people’s experiences of adult social care services (as provided by local authorities), their social care assessment process and broader social care services experiences.

The study, which is known as LOASCA (LGBTQ + Older Adult Social Care Assessment study will work with three local authorities to investigate social care assessments and how older people (65+) with support needs experience them, taking an in-depth look at the ways that practitioners doing assessments consider issues of sexuality and gender identity. Social care workers, including social workers and occupational therapists, complete social care assessments.

Dr Jason Schaub from the University of Birmingham, the project’s principal investigator, said: ‘There is very little research about how social care engages with sexuality and gender identity when assessing the needs of older LGBTQ+ people.’

‘LOASCA will shed light on the adult social care experiences of LGBTQ+ people, both about any discrimination or abuse they may have encountered and their relationship with their social care workers. This study will produce innovative knowledge to help councils support better older people who live in their areas.’

In addition to working with three local authorities, the study is informed by an advisory group that includes older LGBTQ+ people, service providers, and representatives from professional regulators and support organisations, including Safe Ageing No Discrimination, Birmingham LGBT, Opening Doors London and Social Care Institute for Excellence.

Lyn Romeo, the chief social worker for adults, said: ‘LGBTQ+ people experience particular challenges when accessing social care, but we know very little about how social workers support this group of older people. The launch of LOASCA will help our profession address the specific needs of the perhaps millions of LGBTQ+ people who will need social care in later life.’

The project team also includes Dr Stephen Hicks from the University of Manchester, Professor Ben Thomas from Opening Doors, and Dr Paul Willis from the University of Bristol. The University of Birmingham’s Dr Liadh Timmins will work as a research fellow on the project.