Understanding and responding to the often-invisible experiences of LGBTIQ+ young people with affirming care is essential to improving their mental health. It's also a core part of your professional practice as a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) clinician.
To assist in your day-to-day practice, this table links LGBTIQ+ affirming practice to each of the seven relevant universal competencies in the NSW Health CAMHS Competency Framework.
| Competency | LGBTIQ+ affirming practice |
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| 1. Responsible, safe and ethical practice | - Ensuring that all interventions and interactions are inclusive and respectful of LGBTIQ+ clients.
- Protecting confidentiality, avoiding discrimination, and advocating for LGBTIQ+ rights.
- Being aware of and addressing any biases or prejudices you may hold as a clinician.
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| 2. Working with clients, families and carers in recovery-focused ways | Recognising the unique challenges LGBTIQ+ clients face, such as discrimination or identity-related stress. Recovery-focused care should include: - affirming their identities and experiences
- working collaboratively with clients and their support networks to create a supportive recovery plan
- supporting clients and families to navigate changes in life experience, understanding of families' expectations of gender, fertility journeys, and broader social impacts.
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| 3. Meeting diverse needs | - Understanding and respecting a wide range of gender identities and sexual orientations, as well as the unique needs of clients with intersex variations. These experiences may exist alongside other intersectionalities.
- Being knowledgeable about the specific health and social needs of LGBTIQ+ clients and tailoring the approach to address these needs sensitively and effectively.
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| 4. Working with Aboriginal children, adolescents, families and communities | - Being aware of Aboriginal and LGBTIQ+ experiences
- Ensuring that services are culturally sensitive and inclusive of diverse LGBTIQ+ identities within Aboriginal communities.
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| 5. Communication | Communicating effectively in LGBTIQ+ affirming practice, including: - using inclusive language
- being aware of, and sensitive to, the preferred pronouns and identities of clients, actively listening to their experiences
- being prepared to discuss issues related to sexuality, gender identity, and intersex variations openly and respectfully.
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| 6. Continuous quality improvement | Regularly evaluating and improving services to better meet the needs of LGBTIQ+ clients, including: - seeking feedback
- staying updated on best practices for LGBTIQ+ inclusion
- making necessary changes to policies and practices to enhance inclusivity.
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| 6. Partnership and collaboration | Collaborating with LGBTIQ+ organisations and advocates to enhance clinical practice by: - integrating insights and resources specific to LGBTIQ+ communities
- building partnerships with organisations to help improve service delivery, ensure cultural competence and advocate for the needs of LGBTIQ+ clients.
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