Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to help tackle incidents of (a) abuse and (b) discrimination against LGBT+ people in care settings.

People have a right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect, and should expect high quality care and support tailored to meet their needs. Nobody should be disadvantaged due to their sex, sexual orientation or gender reassignment.

A range of measures are in place to prevent abuse and discrimination, and to investigate where any concerns are raised. Care providers have a key role in safeguarding and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines state that care homes should have a known safeguarding lead. The current Care Certificate standards cover equality and diversity.

As part of its inspection regime, the Care Quality Commission checks that care providers have effective systems to help keep adults safe from abuse and neglect. Looking at the quality of care for LGBT people in adult social care has been one of its Equality Objectives for several years. Finally, local authorities have a legal duty to investigate safeguarding concerns under the Care Act 2014.