16% of people who identified themselves in the 2021 Census as being part of the LGBTQ+ community also identified as being a carer. This means being part of the LGBTQ+ community means you are more likely to be a carer than someone who is is not part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Getting support to help you care
Support from the local authority
Caring can be hard work – physically and emotionally. Often, support from professionals may focus on the person you are looking after, instead of you as a carer.
This can be particularly relevant for carers in the LGBTQ+ community if you feel that your relationship with the person you are looking after is not properly recognised or if you feel that your needs won’t be understood by professionals.
However, it’s important to find out about the different ways you might be able to get support as a carer, and getting information and advice or a carer’s needs assessment could be a good place to start.
Information and Advice
LGBTQ+ carers are the least likely to access information and advice with only 12% saying they had when we asked in State of Caring in Wales 2022. All local authorities have a legal duty to provide information and advice in your local area.
We list the weblinks to all local authorities here.
You can also get information and advice from Carers Wales ranging from financial advice to wellbeing support and support at work.
Carer’s needs assessment
If you are a carer who appears to have a need for support, you should be offered a carer’s needs assessment by the local authority of the person you are looking after. If you are not offered a carer’s needs assessment, you should contact the local authority and ask for one.
You can have a carer’s needs assessment no matter what your level of need, the amount of care you provide or your financial means.
For more on Carers Needs Assessments, click here.
Hospital stays and coming out of hospital
If the person you care for needs treatment in the hospital, you may feel concerned about whether you as a carer need to come out to services or be considered as their next of kin, particularly if you are in a relationship with the person you care for.
People often think that next of kin is only a blood relative or spouse. However, you can be nominated as someone’s next of kin. Someone you care for can nominate you as their next of kin, even if you are not in a partnership – for example, if you are friends. LGBT Foundation highlights the importance of nominating next of kin for LGBT people, as they are more likely to be estranged from biological family and have families of choice comprising of friends, neighbours and other people in LGBT communities.
It is also important that as a partner or spouse, you have the same legal rights in a medical setting as someone who is cisgender. The NHS in Wales has legal duties to protect your identity but support your rights, so if you have concerns over revealing your identity while still having access to your rights, talk to a nurse, doctor or administrator confidentially and a support plan should be put in place.
Coming out of hospital
If the person you care for has been in hospital and is going to be discharged, you have a right to be involved in the planning for their care – and to make decisions about the level of care you are able or willing to provide. You may find you are taking on a caring role for the first time, or that the needs of the person you care for have increased or changed. It’s important to be aware that you have the right to refuse to do more care than you want or able to and that in that instance, social services have a legal duty to provide the care needed.
Find out more about coming out of hospital here
Making a complaint
If something goes wrong with services that have been provided, you may want to find a way to put things right. Some people find making a complaint difficult – you may be feeling frustrated and angry, or the thought of complaining may be frightening or may make you feel like you are moaning.
This mechanism can also be used to highlight any discrimination you or the person you care for has experienced due to being part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Making a complaint can be a way to remedy a wrong, get an apology, find out what went wrong, and/or make sure it doesn’t happen again to you or anyone else.
Find out more about making a complaint here
Download the whole LGBTQ+ and caring guide
Talking about caring
For many LGBTQ+ carers, talking about their caring role will not intersect with their sexuality. However, for those where it does, it can be uncomfortable whether in a workplace, medical setting or asking for support from the local authority.
If you have already experienced discrimination or persecution due to sexual orientation, adding the vulnerability of revealing the delicacies of a caring role can be stress inducing.
Ultimately, it is best to share this information and get the support you need. The key is finding the best way and understanding your legal rights as a carer and as someone with a protected characteristic so you can be as confident in the process as possible.
Your rights
You have the right not to be identified by your sexual orientation and have equal rights as a carer to anyone else. This means that sometimes the discussion can be as simple as referring to your legal or preferred status with the person you care for and then refusing to engage otherwise. The onus is on the professional to make the suitable adjustments.
When the situation is more complex, you have the right to engage separately with the professional body. For instance, if you are caring for a family member and other family members are uncomfortable with your sexual orientation, you can highlight this to staff who can look to make reasonable adjustments like offering different visiting hours.
You may also request different professionals to speak to if you are unhappy with the conversation
and think you are receiving worse treatment due to being LGBTQ+. This extends to the workplace where you do not have to speak to your direct line manager if you have concerns that this may discriminate your chances with work or promotion opportunities.
Talking about your caring role is tough on anyone, and may be especially challenging if you are an LGBTQ+ carer. However, some planning, and the admitted bravery to make that first step is the only way to getting more support.
Where to get support
There are a range of national organisations that can provide help. We’ve listed some of these below.
There may be local support groups and organisions that can also provide help.
Carers UK Helpline
We’re here for you with information, guidance and practical support every step of the way. If you mention where you are based, we will aim to tailor our guidance for you.
E: advice@carersuk.org
Adferiad Recovery
They provide support for vulnerable people including individuals recovering from serious mental illness and their carers.
T: 02920 407 407
W: adferiad.org.uk
Age Cymru
Information and advice for the over 60s.
T: 0300 303 44 98
W: ageuk.org.uk/cymru
Alzheimer’s Society
Information and advice for people with dementia and their carers.
T: 0333 150 3456
W: alzheimers.org
Bi Cymru
An all-Wales network bringing together bisexual people and people who think they may be bi from across Wales, tackling social isolation and providing peer support.
E: BiCymru@yahoo.co.uk
W: bicymru.org.uk
Care Inspectorate Wales
The independent regulator of health and social care in Wales.
T: 0300 7900 126
W: careinspectorate.wales
Diverse Cymru
Diverse Cymru is a charity, which supports people facing inequality and discrimination because of a range
of characteristics including, sexual orientation or gender reassignment.
E: info@diverse.cymru
W: diversecymru.org.uk
Citizens Advice Cymru
Local offices for advice/ representation on benefits, debt and housing.
W: citizensadvice.org.uk
Contact
Information and advice for families who care for children with a disability or special need.
T: 0808 808 3555
W: contact.org.uk
Disabled Living Foundation
Information and advice on equipment for independent living.
T: 0300 999 0004
W: dlf.org.uk
DrugFAM
Provides support to families, friends and carers who are struggling to cope with someone’s addiction to drugs or alcohol.
T: 0300 888 3853
W: drugfam.co.uk
FFLAG
FFLAG is a national voluntary organisation dedicated to supporting parents and families to understand, accept and support their lesbian, gay and bisexual family members with love and pride.
Confidential helpline: 0845 652 0311
W: fflag.org.uk
Independent Age
Information and advice for older people, their families and carers.
T: 0800 319 6789
W: independentage.orgcymru
LGBT Cymru Helpline
Providing general information, advice and confidential support in many areas of life and around various issues that LGBTQ+ people, their family, and friends might experience. Helpline open Monday and Wednesday 7pm-9pm.
Free phone: 0800 840 2069
W: lgbtcymruhelpline.org.uk
Mermaids
If you are a young person that feels at odds with their birth gender, or you are a parent with a child who feels this way, Mermaids can help.
W: mermaidsuk.org.uk
Pride Cymru
Welsh LGBT charity working through a programme of projects to support the LGBT community and promotion of the elimination of discrimination.
E: hello@pridecymru.com
W: pridecymru.co.uk
Rainbow Bridge
Rainbow Bridge is a Victim Support run service that specifically supports victims of domestic abuse who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.
Free phone: 0300 3031 982
E:rainbowbridge@victimsupport.org.uk
Stonewall Cymru
Stonewall Cymru is a charity that campaigns for legal equality and social justice for lesbian, gay, bi and trans people in Wales.
You can contact Stonewall Cymru’s Information Service with your questions on any issue affecting lesbian, gay, bi and trans people.
Free phone: 08000 50 20 20
E: cymru@stonewallcymru.org.uk
W: stonewallcymru.org.uk
Trans*form Cymru
Trans*Form Cymru is led by a Steering Group of young people who all identify on the trans spectrum. They work to raise awareness of trans issues among professionals and young people.
E: rachel@youthcymru.org.uk
W: youthcymru.org.uk/transform-cymru
Unity Group Wales
The Unity Group offers a wide range of services to help and support LGBTQ+ people and their family, partners and friends including The Unity Identity Centre, Wales’ first centre for all those who identify as trans.
T: 01792 346299
E: info@unitygroup.wales
W: unitygroup.wales
Umbrella Cymru
Umbrella Cymru’s aim is to advance gender and sexual diversity, equality and inclusion across Wales. They offer a range of specialist support services.
T: 0300 302 3670
W: umbrellacymru.co.uk
UNIQUE Transgender Network
UNIQUE Transgender Network is a voluntary group supporting trans people in North Wales.
T: 01745 337144
E: elen@uniquetg.org.uk
W: uniquetg.org.uk
Viva LGBT
Specialist services and direct support for LGBTQ+ young people (14-25 years old) and those questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity and their families/carers, based in Rhyl and covering all of North Wales.
T: 01745 357941
E: info@vivalgbt.co.uk
W: vivalgbt.co.uk
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