Supporting young people as they explore their sexual and gender identities is becoming an increasingly central aspect in health and social care.
With a renewed focus on the rights, wellbeing, and challenges faced by young people who identify as LGBTQ+ – an updated Research in Practice briefing aims to refocus attention on what matters to young people.
Social care practitioners play a vital role in supporting young people to safely explore and make sense of their identities and experiences. An updated Frontline Briefing aims to support you to build knowledge and understanding of young people who identify as LGBTQ+. The resource can also support you to have conversations with young people, practitioners, foster carers and others.
By sharing messages from research, including what LGBTQ+ young people want from professionals and services, we hope to contribute to more inclusive support for all children and young people. We encourage practitioners to reflect on their own assumptions, and to ask questions of the people, services and organisations they work with.
Supporting children and young people who identify as LGBTQ+
This briefing aims to help readers build their foundational knowledge and understanding of experiences of LGBTQ+ children and young people. It encourages practitioners to reflect on their own assumptions, and to ask questions of the people, services and organisations they work with.
It primarily focuses on supporting the experiences of older children and young people, aged 16 to 25.
In celebration of Pride month, this resource will be open access until 30 June.
We are grateful for the input of the reference group who shaped the content and tone of the original briefing. The resource has been updated following the publication of the Cass Review in 2024 and will require continual review as evidence evolves.
Supporting children and young people who identify as LGBTQ+: Frontline Briefing (2025)
This briefing aims to share messages from research, including what LGBTQ+ young people want from professionals and services, to promote inclusive support to all children and young people.
Inclusive practice with young people who identify as LGBTQ+
Supporting health and wellbeing in relation to emerging sexual orientation and gender identity is a core aspect of working with adolescents. Our Frontline Briefing on supporting young people who identify as LGBTQ+ is open access for LGBT+ History Month.