Tag Archives: Cat Forward

Widening Participation and Apprenticeships in health and social care: Report and Call for Research Participants

Posted on by
Reply

Cat Forward reports from a roundtable event held by the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Workforce as part of two studies in its current programme of work – on Widening Participation and Apprenticeships. If your NHS Trust or Integrated Care System is interested in taking part in these studies, do get in touch with catherine.forward@kcl.ac.uk. (414 words)

As part of its core programme of work, the Unit hosted a hybrid roundtable event on 2nd April 2025 with 88 online and in-person attendees from NHS trusts, NHS-England, local authorities, academia, public representative bodies and the charity sector. The event titled “Refreshing approaches to Widening Participation and Apprenticeships: The New Agenda?” sought to facilitate discussion about existing Unit work, to share current and best practice in Integrated Care Systems and Trusts, as well as discussing directions future research might take. Continue reading →

Going into the Care Closet?

Posted on by

Dr Cat Forward is Research Associate at the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Workforce, King’s College London. (420 words)

As part of LGBTQ+ History Month, Lambeth Libraries hosted an event organised by Lambeth Links, talking about the issues surrounding the needs of LGBTQ+ individuals in later life. A panel chaired by Robbie de Santos (Stonewall, Director of Communications and External Affairs) shared their experiences of contact with the health and care system.

Ted Brown has been an active member of GLF (Gay Liberation Front) since 1970. He is currently campaigning against LGBTQI+ elder abuse following the experiences of his partner in residential care. He shared the experiences they had following Noel’s diagnosis of dementia and his subsequent interactions with health and social care services. Ted spoke of the advice they were given to ‘de-gay’ their house prior to care staff’s arrival to minimise any potential homophobia, and of the lack of staff awareness of issues relating to LGBTQ+ couples. He is continuing to raise awareness of issues such as these and spoke of wanting to work with local organisations to improve staff training and awareness. Continue reading →