Sexual Orientation

The Trust's LGBT+ Staff Network was formally launched in February 2020 with an event attended by Carl Austin Behan (the LGBT Advisor to the Mayor of Greater Manchester) and members of the Trust's Executive Team. The launch was held as part of LGBT History Month and hosted the #WalkinMyShoes exhibition. This pop-up exhibition featured audio recordings of Salford resident’s telling their story of what it was like to grow up in the city as a member of the LGBT community. You can listen to the 'walk in my shoes' stories HERE​ (opens in a new window) and for more information about the project, contact LGBT@Salford.gov.uk.

Our LGBT+ Staff Network meets regularly and has developed an action plan. The network now has over 60 members. Despite lockdown and being unable to meet frequently, during 2020 the network has continued and is proud to have been involved in and achieved the following:

• Amending how gender is recording on PCMIS ensuring it is more inclusive around Gender Identity
• Helping to develop the Trust's Hate Crime Protocol and training package.
• Having a presence at NHS Virtual Pride (opens in a new window).

LGBT+ Network | Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS FT (gmmh.nhs.uk)

The GMMH buzz Resource and Library Service produced an LGBT+ support resource for staff and service users highlighting what LGBT+ resources and services were available for the LGBT+ community during the pandemic. buzz is Manchester’s Health & Well­be­ing Service. You can view this resource on buzz's website (under COVID-19 Information Collections) here (opens in a new window).

GMMH has signed up to the NHS Rainbow initiative and are supporting staff to wear the NHS rainbow badge. The initiative is a simple way to signal to our LGBT service users that they can be comfortable in discussing LGBT issues and be signposted, where needed, to the appropriate support.

The badges are just one way to show that GMMH is an open, non-judgemental and inclusive place for people that identify as LGBT+ (which stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender). The + simply means that we are inclusive of all identities, regardless of how people define themselves. All staff have to make a pledge to not just wear a badge but to promote inclusion.

As a Proud Employer, GMMH attends many of the local Pride events over the summer months to demonstrate how we are a LGBT+ friendly employer and Diversity Champion NHS Trust. This was not possible in 2020, due to the pandemic, but our commitment to having that visibility at Pride events remains.

Despite lockdown, in 2020, we recognised all of our LGBT+ colleagues by taking part in NHS England and NHS Improvement's LGBT+ Staff Network's 'NHS Virtual Pride', which is a celebration of all things LGBT+ for Pride Month, as well as the work still to be done, cumulating in an event on the 26 June 2020. GMMH's LGBT+ Staff Network held a virtual meeting for members, incorporating this with NHS Virtual Pride.

Throughout June 2020, we also ran a social media campaign putting our LGBT+ staff front and centre and promoting our LGBT+ Staff Network and support for the NHS Rainbow badge initiative.

We have developed a Sexuality and Mental Health session at our Recovery Academy to raise awareness and aid learning.

The Trust worked with the LGBT Foundation on the Pride in Practice (opens in a new window) initiative, which provides tailored and ongoing support, training and advice to Health Care Professionals to make services more LGBT+ inclusive. Historically, the scheme has worked with GPs, Dentists, Pharmacists and Optometrists and GMMH was the first Mental Health Trust to become involved in the scheme.

GMMH's LGBT+ Staff Network is working with the LGBT Foundation to continue the work.