Early Help and Prevention
Specialist Family Support Worker – Role Scope
LGBTQ (December 2018)
Specialist family support worker (role scope) – LGBTQ
What support is available?
The Early Help and Prevention Service are currently expanding their team to include more support for young people who are exploring their gender identity/sexuality and their families. This team will:
- Offer support and guidance for professionals through the ‘Team Around the Worker’ model
- Liaise with schools and other agencies to ensure support for young people is effective
- Offer short one to one interventions for young people
- Continue to offer young people access to a weekly specialist youth group (4U).
For further information whilst we are developing our team and services, you should continue contact us through our email address – 4U.project@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
The 4U Youth Group
The 4U Youth Group exists in the city to support young people between the ages of 13 and 19-years-old who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender variant or who are questioning their gender identity/sexuality.
We have an experienced, skilled youth team who offer a weekly youth group every Tuesday 6.00pm – 9.00pm. We meet in a safe, secure and supportive environment. Each week we run activities which are designed to help to improve self-esteem, give young people a social outlet in which to make new friends and to provide information to support them as they move into adulthood.
To access 4U, the young person will first need to have a conversation with our Specialist Support Worker to establish if 4U is the right group for them, or whether alternative support would be more suitable. To arrange time to speak with the team, email 4U.project@portsmouthcc.gov.uk with the appropriate contact details of the young person, parent or their support worker.
The Youth Group space has step-free access and an accessible toilet, although some of the hallways are quite narrow. If you have any questions about access, please contact us for more information and we will be happy to help.
External agencies and useful information for professionals
Allsorts (Allsorts support LGBTQ young people in Brighton. They have a collection of really useful resources for professionals, parents and young people). http://www.allsortsyouth.org.uk/resources
GIDS (The Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service. The only clinic in the country for children and young people aged under 18 who are trans, gender variant or exploring their gender identity. http://gids.nhs.uk/professionals
Gender Intelligence (GI trains professionals in varying sectors on how to support young trans people, as well as offering mentoring in schools, a parent support group and trans youth groups. http://genderedintelligence.co.uk/professionals/training
LGBT youth in care (Information for professionals and carers on how to support LGBT young people in care).
https://www.lgbtyouthincare.com
PEP (The Portsmouth Education Partnership’s Trans inclusion guidance for schools).
http://www.portsmoutheducationpartnership.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1.157-Trans-Inclusion-Guidance-for-Schools-and-Colleges-PROOF-5.pdf
Stonewall (An LGBT rights charity, working with policy-makers and organisations to improve equality and the lives of LGBT people in the UK and abroad) http://www.stonewall.org.uk
Equality and human rights – Trans (Information on protections for Trans people under the Equality Act 2010)
www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/gender-reassignment-discrimination
Equality and human rights – LGB (Information on protections for LGB people under the Equality Act 2010)
www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/sexual-orientation-discrimination
External agencies and useful information for parents/carers
Allsorts (Allsorts support LGBTQ young people in Brighton. They have a collection of really useful resources for professionals, parents and young people). http://www.allsortsyouth.org.uk/resources
Chrysalis (Chrysalis are based in Southampton and support trans adults over the age of 18. But they can offer support to parents of trans children no matter what age your child). http://www.chrysalis-gii.org/
National Referral Support Service (replacing The Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service – GIDS). The NHS service for children and young people aged under 18 who are trans, gender variant or exploring their gender identity. Official website
Gender Intelligence (A London based organisation who work with trans / gender variant young people nationally. They run a group for parents of trans children / young people, as well as trans youth groups. GI also work with schools and other organisations to improve knowledge and understanding around gender identity). http://genderedintelligence.co.uk/support/trans-youth/groups
LGBT youth in care (Information for professionals and carers on how to support LGBT young people in care).
https://www.lgbtyouthincare.com
Stonewall (An LGBT rights charity, working with policy-makers and organisations to improve equality and the lives of LGBT people in the UK and abroad). http://www.stonewall.org.uk/
Equality and human rights – Trans (Information on protections for Trans people under the Equality Act 2010)
Equality and human rights – LGB (Information on protections for LGB people under the Equality Act 2010).
www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/sexual-orientation-discrimination
External agencies and useful information for young people
Allsorts (Allsorts support LGBTQ young people in Brighton. They have a collection of really useful resources for professionals, parents and young people). http://www.allsortsyouth.org.uk/resources
GIDS (The Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service. The only clinic in the country for children and young people aged under 18 who are trans, gender variant or exploring their gender identity). http://gids.nhs.uk/young-people
Gender Intelligence (A London based organisation who work with trans / gender variant young people nationally. They run youth groups in London, Leeds and Bristol and regular projects, as well as running a parents group. GI also work with schools and other organisations to improve knowledge and understanding around gender identity).
http://genderedintelligence.co.uk/support/trans-youth/groups
Y Services (Support for LGBT young people in Havant, Fareham and Gosport). www.yservices.co.uk/lgbt
Young Stonewall (An LGBT rights charity, working with policy-makers and organisations to improve equality and the lives of LGBT people in the UK and abroad). http://www.youngstonewall.org.uk/
Equality and human rights (Information on protections for LGB and Trans people under the Equality Act 2010).
Equality and human rights – Trans www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/gender-reassignment-discrimination
Equality and human rights – LGB www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/sexual-orientation-discrimination
Changing your name (Government advice on changing your name legally). www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll
Kroma (Support for LGBTQ adults (over 18) in Portsmouth). www.kromalgbt.org.uk