We’re extremely proud to introduce the Sexuality Champions initiative to encourage and normalise conversations about friendships, sexuality and intimacy within care homes.
Our Sexuality Champions will become the ‘go to’ people for advice and support, signposting people to the relevant advice and support.
The initiative is driven on research carried out with Leeds University in 2019, which suggested that many people living in care homes thought they weren’t allowed personal relationships and struggled with low self-esteem.
Residents who took part in this study indicated that they weren’t often asked about these needs and that colleagues didn’t always know how to manage or discuss this with them in an appropriate and professional way.
The study results highlighted that people in care too often miss the company and social interaction that many people take for granted in their day-to-day lives.
To combat this issue, Exemplar Health Care partnered with national charity Enhance the UK to deliver training on this topic in 2020, upskilling around 3,000 colleagues.
As part of Enhance the UK’s #UndressingDisability campaign, which aims to normalise sex and disability, all Exemplar Health Care colleagues are trained to help residents exercise their right of sexual expression in a safe, healthy, and legal way.
More than three years after the first training courses were rolled out, our Sexuality Champions will continue to deliver training and challenge perceptions about sex and disability to empower people to maintain fulfilling, healthy personal relationships.
The Champions are trained in topics including sexual expression, privacy, gender identity and sexuality, mental capacity, the law, professional boundaries, pornography and sex workers.
The programme is supported by Lianne Ford, Lead Nurse, Lorraine Thomas, Advanced Behaviour Support Practitioner, and Sophia Feurtado, Service User Engagement Manager.
“We all want to be loved, look and feel good, and have meaningful relationships. Our Sexuality Champions are here to ensure that this isn’t any different for people who live in care homes.
“Our Champions deliver training and support to both colleagues and residents to improve care around sexuality, intimacy and relationships, in a safe and lawful way. The aim is to make this part of ‘the norm’ at Exemplar Health Care, and we will continue to put in the work to make sure this becomes the case.”
Explore over 50 care homes across England, supporting adults living with complex needs.
Join over 100 ICBs and local authorities in choosing Exemplar Health Care for complex care placements.
Discover rewarding careers in care with stable roles and plenty of opportunities to grow.
Contact our friendly team for assistance with referrals, job enquiries or any questions you have.