10 February 2023

CNWL has been rated one of the most LGBT+ friendly healthcare organisations to work for by gay rights organisation Stonewall for the last seven years.

This year’s Stonewall Top 100 index will come out very soon when we hope to make it eight years!

The Trust will also join a new NHS Rainbow programme, commissioned by NHS England.

Dominique Gibson and Behzad Basit, Co-Chairs of the Trust’s LGBT+ Staff Network, PRIDE@CNWL, say

“By joining this new NHS Rainbow Badge Scheme we can gather more feedback from staff and patients about their experiences at CNWL and further LGBT+ equality in the workplace and in our services.

“It’s an assessment and accreditation model and allows Trusts to demonstrate their commitment to reducing barriers to healthcare for LGBT+ people, whilst evidencing the good work we have already done.

“To help assess where we are now we want to hear from staff and patients in the survey links below. We’re asking for feedback during February and March so we can make an action plan based on your views.”

The scheme includes a collaboration consisting of the LGBT Foundation, Stonewall, the LGBT Consortium, Switchboard and GLADD.

Trusts taking part will receive a graded award reflecting their current LGBT+ inclusion work and are able to achieve a, Bronze, Silver or Gold award. In addition to the award the Trusts will receive a comprehensive feedback report and action plan, which is designed to help Trusts achieve the next level and help facilitate meaningful change.

Staff and patients can tell us how inclusive we are in the Rainbow assessment surveys

Where is CNWL now and how can we improve?

In order to understand how CNWL is currently being inclusive of LGBT+ people, and as part of the NHS Rainbow Badge Programme, we need some information from you.

This information will help us identify and celebrate the work that is already being done while also understanding what next steps need to be taken to make our services a safer and more inclusive environment for LGBT+ people. 

Patient Survey - Click here to complete the survey 

What the survey is about: 

  • We want to know what service user’s experiences with Trust staff has been like in terms of LGBT+ inclusivity (e.g. has staff introduced their pronouns, has a patient’s gender/sexual orientation been asked for or assumed etc) 
  • We want to know if service users have encountered or witnessed any transphobic/homophobic/biphobic behaviour or language within the trust and what the reporting process has been like 

How will it help:

  • With this information we will be able to gain an overview of where our Trust is at in terms of providing support to LGBT+ staff and patients 
  • This will help us develop an action plan.

Download the poster to display in our services

Staff Survey - Click here to complete the survey

What the survey is about

  • We want to know how comfortable colleagues feel about discussing LGBT+ topics with patients and colleagues (this is especially important as we are wanting to hear from everyone, not just members of the LGBT+ community) 
  • We are interested to hear about any training that staff have had/would like to have with regards to LGBT+ topics and whether LGBT+ colleagues receive adequate support from the Trust 
  • We want to know how important employees think knowing about LGBT+ issues is with regards to providing patient care and supporting colleagues 
  • We want to know if colleagues have had or witnessed any transphobic/homophobic/biphobic behaviour or language within the Trust 

How will it help

  • With this information we will be able to gain an overview of where CNWL is at in terms of providing support to LGBT+ staff and patients 
  • We will be able to identify what staff would like to see the Trust do going forward

We will gain a better understanding of the working environment and things that work well and might not work so well when it comes to providing care.

Download the poster to display in our services