Supporting LGBTQ+ Young People

LGBTQ+ young people in care deserve more than tolerance -they deserve a home where they are seen, supported, and safe. Inclusion in children’s homes isn’t just about values; it’s about safeguarding and improving outcomes.

This article lays out seven practical strategies for creating inclusive environments - from reviewing policies and delivering meaningful staff training, to making inclusion visible, responsive, and part of everyday care. Key actions include respecting chosen names and pronouns, tackling harmful peer dynamics, connecting to external support, and embedding feedback loops where young people are genuinely heard.

For leaders, it’s about turning good intentions into frameworks that drive consistent, person-centred practice.

Sue Solutions   supports this by helping care teams plan, document, and deliver inclusive care with confidence - through digital tools built for real-world challenges

As we nationally celebrate Pride Month, it’s a powerful time to reflect on how we can better support LGBTQ+ young people in care. At The Client Bridge Family, we believe that smart software and compassionate practice go hand in hand - especially when it comes to creating inclusive, affirming environments for every child.

Children’s homes are more than just places of safety - they are spaces where young people should feel seen, respected, and free to be themselves. For LGBTQ+ young people, this isn’t always the reality. Many face additional layers of vulnerability, from discrimination and isolation to a lack of understanding from the adults around them.

For LGBTQ+ children and young people, care should never be a place to survive - it should be a space to thrive. And yet, many still experience homes where they feel misunderstood, unseen, or worse - unsafe.

The responsibility falls on providers, leaders, and care teams to create truly inclusive environments. Not through token gestures or vague commitments, but through deliberate action, backed by thoughtful policy and practical strategy.



Inclusion is Safeguarding

Being inclusive isn’t about political correctness - it’s safeguarding. LGBTQ+ children are statistically more likely to face bullying, mental health challenges, and instability in placement settings. For those already navigating the complexities of care, these additional pressures can be overwhelming.

What makes the difference? An environment where identity is respected, voices are heard, and support is embedded - not just promised.

Step 1: Start with the Paperwork - but Make it Matter

Let’s begin where many initiatives start -policies. They are essential but only if they translate into daily practice.

Check your current documents:

• Equality and diversity policies explicitly reference LGBTQ+ identities?
• Safeguarding guidance include procedures for managing discrimination or identity-based bullying?
• Care plan templates allow for pronouns, chosen names, and gender identity?
• Staff handbooks outline expectations around inclusive language and conduct?

It’s not about ticking boxes. It’s about setting a clear tone: this is a place where everyone is protected and respected for who they are.

Step 2: Build Knowledge, Not Just Awareness

Training is crucial but it has to go beyond one-off sessions or surface-level slideshows. If staff are unsure how to respond to a young person coming out, or lack confidence in navigating gender diversity, young people notice.

Every team member should be trained to understand:

• The spectrum of sexual and gender identities.
• The impact of microaggressions and unconscious bias.
• How to intervene in moments of harm - subtle or overt.
• The importance of confidentiality and sensitive communication.

Better yet, invite lived experience in. Partner with LGBTQ+ organisations or care-experienced advocates to deliver real insight. When you give staff the tools to engage, the culture starts to shift from cautious to confident, from passive to proactive.

Step 3: Make Inclusion Visible and Meaningful

Representation matters. Seeing yourself reflected in your environment through books, posters, conversations helps signal that you belong.

But symbols must be backed by substance. A Pride sticker on the wall doesn’t mean much if staff don’t stand up against harmful language, or if a young person is misgendered and no one steps in.

So yes display inclusive materials. But also:

• Review your library for diverse stories
• Talk openly and positively about identity
• Celebrate LGBTQ+ history months or awareness days with intention

Inclusion is as much about daily culture as it is about visual cues.

Step 4: Put the Young Person at the Centre

Every child in care deserves a plan that reflects their full self not just their risks or needs, but their identity, hopes, and preferences.

That includes:

• Recording chosen names and pronouns respectfully and consistently.
• Making space in reviews for young people to talk about identity (if they want to).
• Planning around social activities that feel safe and affirming.

Young people may shift how they describe themselves over time. That’s okay. What matters is that the care team moves with them gently, without pressure, always with respect.

Step 5: Tackle the Peer Environment

Children’s homes are group settings and the peer dynamic can either support or harm LGBTQ+ young people. Foster a culture where respect is the norm, not the exception. This means:

• Challenging harmful language, every time even the ‘jokes’.
• Helping all young people understand diversity in a developmentally appropriate way.
• Modelling inclusive behaviour as adults.

When things go wrong, and sometimes they will, address it restoratively. Guide young people to see impact, take responsibility, and grow from the experience.

Step 6: Think Beyond the Front Door

Inclusion doesn’t stop at the home’s threshold. The wider world plays a huge role in a young person’s experience. Where possible, connect them to:

• LGBTQ+ youth groups or safe spaces in the community.
• Online resources or helplines (think Mermaids, AKT, The Proud Trust).
• Trusted adult allies beyond the care team, like mentors or therapists with relevant experience.

Not every child will want to engage with external groups but knowing the option exists is empowering in itself.

Step 7: Listen, and Then Listen Again

Perhaps the most important strategy of all: create space for LGBTQ+ young people to speak and be believed.

• Ask how they feel about the home’s inclusivity.
• Invite feedback on what could improve.
• Follow up with real action, not just a sympathetic nod.

Whether it’s through keyworker sessions, anonymous feedback forms, or group discussions, find multiple ways to hear their voices. And when you do hear them - act. Respect is earned through responsiveness.

For Leaders: Turn Vision Into Framework

If you are a registered manager or service lead, your role is pivotal. Set expectations. Monitor outcomes. And make inclusion a visible part of your quality and compliance approach.

• Include inclusivity in audits and supervision templates.
• Track the experience and outcomes of LGBTQ+ young people over time.
• Build it into staff appraisals and development plans.
• Reflect it in your home’s Statement of Purpose.

Inclusion isn’t a project it’s a core thread of quality care. Leaders who model it make it easier for their teams to follow.

This Work Is Ongoing

Creating inclusive children’s homes isn’t about arriving at a fixed endpoint. It’s about showing up every day with intention, humility, and care. For LGBTQ+ young people, knowing they are safe, respected, and celebrated in their home can be life-changing. It’s the difference between surviving and thriving. Between feeling like a problem and being treated like a person. And that’s something every child in care deserves.

Supporting Inclusion, the Sue Way

At Sue Solutions, we believe inclusion is part of outstanding care. Our tools help teams personalise support, track outcomes, and stay responsive to every young person’s evolving needs.

 Want to build inclusive, compliant care from the inside out?



FAQs

Sue Answers

1. Why is LGBTQ+ inclusion important in children’s homes?

LGBTQ+ young people in care are statistically more likely to experience bullying, identity-based discrimination, and mental health challenges. An inclusive environment ensures that every child feels safe, respected, and supported key components of safeguarding and positive long-term outcomes.

2. What practical steps can care homes take to support LGBTQ+ young people?

Start with inclusive policies, train your team thoroughly, and ensure representation is visible and meaningful. Respect young people’s chosen names and pronouns, respond to incidents appropriately, and actively listen to their experiences. Care should always be person-centred and responsive.

3. How does Sue Solutions support inclusive care planning?

Sue Solutions offers tools to help care providers document, personalise, and monitor support in real time.

Our platform enables teams to:

• Record and update chosen names and pronouns
• Track identity-based support needs
• Capture the young person’s voice in reviews
• Flag inclusion-related safeguarding concerns
  

Everything is centralised, secure, and designed to help staff respond confidently and consistently.

4. Can Sue Software help manage training and compliance around inclusion?

Yes. Sue allows teams to record training completion, assign updates, and track compliance across your service. You can also upload or link to key inclusion policies, making it easier for support staff and managers to access them when needed.

5. What kind of reporting can I generate with Sue Solutions?

You can create detailed reports that show patterns in wellbeing, incidents, or feedback making it easier to spot gaps in inclusion or safeguarding. This data supports both internal reflection and external inspections, helping you remain audit-ready at all times.

6. Is Sue Solutions suitable for children’s homes with complex needs?

Absolutely. Sue is designed with flexibility in mind. Whether you’re supporting young people with trauma, neurodiverse needs, or diverse identities including LGBTQ+ children Sue helps you tailor care planning and record-keeping to the individual. It’s not one-size-fits-all it’s built for person-centred care.

7. Can I use Sue to involve young people in their own care planning?

Yes. With Sue’s person-centred tools, young people can contribute to their care plans, log feedback, and reflect on goals. This not only builds trust, but also empowers them to shape the support they receive, something especially important for LGBTQ+ young people who may not feel heard elsewhere.

8. How can I get started with Sue Solutions?

You can book a free demo to see how Sue works in practice. Our team will guide you through how the software can support inclusive care, meet compliance standards, and save valuable admin time so your team can focus on what matters most: delivering outstanding care.