GIDS being sued by their safeguarding lead.

Trust statement, "Our Gender Identity Development Service
4 November 2018

As reported in the Observer today, the Trust is currently conducting an internal review into issues raised about the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS).
www.theguardian.com/society/2018/nov/03/tavistock-centre-gender-identity-clinic-accused-fast-tracking-young-adults

The first thing to say is that GIDS has a long track record of thoughtful and high quality care in supporting young people presenting with symptoms of gender dysphoria. This is borne out by independent CQC inspections, as well as the feedback we receive from young people themselves and their families through our Experience of Service Questionnaire (ESQ).

All staff in the service are aware of the review and have been encouraged by both our Medical Director and Chief Executive to avail themselves of this opportunity to express their own views about the service. The Trust is concerned by the tone and manner in which allegations have been made. They reveal a negative attitude to gender dysphoria and gender identity which does not reflect the views or the approach of the Trust or GIDS...

The GIDS was founded in 1989 and is one of the longest standing services for gender diverse children and young people in the world. Domenico Di Ceglie, who founded the service, wrote a set of therapeutic aims which we still abide by today. This includes the unconditional acceptance and respect for young people’s gender identity. We do not therefore take a view regarding the outcome of an individual’s gender identity development: rather, our focus is to provide a space for exploration of gender, to ameliorate any negative impacts on general development and to work with young people to think through all the options open to them. These principles remain central to the delivery of the service.

Di Ceglie,

During the life of the service, staff and users have contributed creatively to its development. For instance, a mother of a child with gender identity disorders involved in a dispute over contact with her ex-partner, asked me during a court break if she could meet other parents facing similar issues. This was the start of a new development – the running of a group for parents of children with gender problems. This group became an important feature of our service and then led to the formation of a self-help organization called ‘Mermaids’. Mermaids had been the focus of discussion in one of the parents’ groups in an attempt to understand the fascination that some children have for these mythical creatures. ‘Mermaids’ is a complementary organization to our service, which offers the kind of help and support that we, as professionals, cannot. Their social activities and networks provide, in my view, a space within society in which children and teenagers with unusual gender development can feel accepted. Their social isolation is reduced and they can start to feel part of a community

journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1359104502007003013?journalCode=ccpa&

Di Ceglie helped set up Mermaids and was an advisor.

1996 Mermaids at Glendys Conference,
And finally, why "MERMAIDS"? Where did we get the name? One of our member's children once asked his mum: "Would you still love me if I were a Mermaid?" in other words, no matter how odd people think I am, will you still love me? (She does, in case you're wondering.) When we brought this suggestion up in committee, Dr. Di Ceglie told us that very often children, and adults, who are male to female gender dysphoric, are fascinated by Mermaids. Certainly one art therapist was prompted to write to us as she works with a very young boy who constantly draws Mermaids.

www.gender.org.uk/conf/1996/mermaids.htm

It just sounds such a paranoid place to work. In David Taylor’s report he talks about tension in the team, being lobbied by outside groups, and older trans people for early intervention with puberty blockers. He also mentions the lack of any forward plans and the importance of there being no collected evidence. This was 14-19 years ago. The issues with GIDS have been there in plain sight for the board at the Tavistock. They can’t say ‘We were following Best Practice in the prescription of puberty blockers’ because they knew years ago there was no evidence for it, only theory and biased anecdotes. They’ve known this for YEARS, they then fudged their own study into their prescription and use, and prescribed them to more and more children. They knew. I am so angry.

I don't get the TRA cavalier attitude to safe guarding. If they get what they want, self ID and abolition of single sex spaces, all it will take is a few bad actors taking advantage of the very very obvious gaping holes in safe guarding this creates for there to be a huge backlash, which will affect the whole trans community.

If I was advocating for what they are, I would have safeguarding front and centre.

23rd June 2015 Tavistock and Portman Trust board minutes (p8)

17 ‘Freedom to Speak Up’ report
Mr Campbell introduced the report, explaining that it addressed the recommendation of the report by Sir Robert Francis which looked at whistleblowing and how to create an open culture within the NHS. The board discussed the recommendations, and the various appointments for receiving concerns. Mr Holt emphasized the importance of distinguishing between complaints and whistleblowing, to help encourage receiving both. Dr Senior commented that the work on whistleblowing was complemented by the ongoing work in looking at capturing lower level worries and concerns, and that NED involvement there would be valuable in giving an external perspective. It was agreed that this was an important topic and an update should return to the board in September.
The Board noted the report.

18 Jimmy Savile Recommendations Report
Mr Campbell introduced the report giving the background and explaining the draft action plan that would be returned to Monitor once approved. Ms Greatley noted that the language within the draft action plan needed to be tightened up and more detail given for some of the items. Mr Holt raised the question of ID badges, and access to the site more generally and Ms Lyon explained that the management team were looking at the issue and would be bringing a paper to the board shortly.
The Board approved the action plan, subject to the amendments discussed.

tavistockandportman.nhs.uk/about-us/governance/board-of-directors/meetings/

They have been online and accessible to anyone since lockdown. Details on how to access are posted on their website in advance.

interesting that you listen to Tavi board meetings @rogdmum

I suspect the Tavi lawyers have gone for the “you are ALL lying” as there is absolutely no actual defence! Lizzie I also suspect that this defence is to try and prevent anymore whistle blowers in the future. Not a good strategy

Sinha's whiplash from his HSJ article on the Francis report to his own Tavi report 😳. Why?

That’s a very interesting piece, Caorthann, thanks for posting. I’ve listened to a couple of the recent Tavi board meetings and Sinha has been very defensive during them.

She said her line manager, medical director Dr Dinesh Sinha, raised concerns that she was discussing the paedophile and 'linking that to the GIDS service'.
'Jimmy Savile has to be discussed in relation to safeguarding. It is that simple. What Dr Sinha has failed to ask himself is 'why would staff at GIDS be so sensitive about the phrase 'Jimmy Savile'?'.'

In 2013 Sinha wrote in the HSJ,

One of the key insights of the Francis report was the intransigence of the trust board at the heart of poor decision making, rebuffing efforts and information that deviated from its position. This could be thought of as an organisational “thick skin” that is at risk of developing in response to information from outside the board that challenges its internal understanding.

www.hsj.co.uk/commissioning/lay-members-make-stronger-transparent-ccg-boards/5064089.article

The Francis Report was the result of the inquiry into care failures at Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust and identified the need for improvements in the culture of the NHS highlighting the impact that has on the ability of staff to raise concerns.

The report made 290 recommendations, including:

openness, transparency and candour throughout the health care system (including a statutory duty of candour), fundamental standards for health care providers
improved support for compassionate caring and committed care and stronger health care leadership.

“The inquiry chairman, Robert Francis QC, concluded that patients were routinely neglected by a trust that was preoccupied with cost cutting, targets and processes and which lost sight of its fundamental responsibility to provide safe care.”

www.health.org.uk/about-the-francis-inquiry

Dr Dinesh Sinha was appointed to the Tavistock and Portman board as Medical Director in August 2018 and also took up the role of Director of Quality from June 2019.
tavistockandportman.nhs.uk/about-us/governance/board-of-directors/

Just posting the link to the mail article.

NHS child gender clinic whistleblower made 'Jimmy Savile' warnings
mol.im/a/9688895

Wow, talk about a hostile working environment.

And yes, yes it is Datun

Mrs Appleby states that concerns were raised after she used Jimmy Savile as an example of bad safeguarding practices during training sessions.

She said her line manager, medical director Dr Dinesh Sinha, raised concerns that she was discussing the paedophile and 'linking that to the GIDS service'.

Isn't that a typical, well noted reaction to shut down discussion? Omg, you think we're all rapists/pedophiles!

The Jimmy Saville issue is very interesting. From the Mail article:

Mrs Appleby states that concerns were raised after she used Jimmy Savile as an example of bad safeguarding practices during training sessions.

She said her line manager, medical director Dr Dinesh Sinha, raised concerns that she was discussing the paedophile and 'linking that to the GIDS service'.

in July 2019 Mrs Appleby was told there was an allegation that she said GIDS was 'another Savile waiting to happen' and that he proposed to put a letter in her file.

'Jimmy Savile is a well-known perpetrator of sexual abuse, meaning that whoever is talking about me talking about Jimmy Savile, does not properly understand what 'talking about Jimmy Savile' means in the context of safeguarding children.

'I do believe that this allegation was made to me because of my protected disclosures and a desire by the Trust, Dr Polly Carmichael, to hamper my ability to operate. It was a full-blown organisational assault on me

'Talking about Jimmy Savile is an absolutely integral part that staff understand what they need to do, particularly as a result of the Lampard inquiry [the probe into Savile allegations] process, that they should know what to do if they think a patient is being harmed by a celebrity/VIP, which is the Jimmy Savile reference.

'It is incongruent to say that I need to 'exercise care' in my language to staff with safeguarding.

'Jimmy Savile has to be discussed in relation to safeguarding. It is that simple. What Dr Sinha has failed to ask himself is 'why would staff at GIDS be so sensitive about the phrase 'Jimmy Savile'?'.'

Thanks for this thread, it is incredibly helpful.

Wow, that Taylor report is jaw-dropping, all the problems were there 15+ years ago.
GIDS is described as an "orphan service" so no one was watching them and they were operating in isolation from other services-you can see how a little empire was being built. He suggests that GIDS should be running alongside services for other complex adolescent mental health services ie eating disorders/body dysmorphia, this was clearly ignored. Many of us here have seen a potential link between these conditions but I suspect it wouldn't suit the narrative of the "trans experts" to consider this as it might have led them to lose power over their super exotic speciality area.

no doubt there is much more to emerge

no doubt. but how much can an employment tribunal judge actually do? INAL so if anyone with legal expertise could let us know :)

Thanks all you brilliant women for your knowledge, analysis and research

Apparently a Dr Nick Temple was CEO during that period, when things could have been brought back from the brink, so to speak.

I should point out that the article linked above I think was first published in The Observer not The Guardian.

[quote Caorthann]Dr David Taylor's review of GIDS (then known as GIDU) in 2005-6 is worth adding to the timeline,
threadreaderapp.com/thread/1319351037279539206.html[/quote]
Wow. If Dr Taylor’s proposed solutions, had been implemented 2006/7 NONE of this would have happened. It's incomprehensible when you learn that solutions which would have prevented the devastation (for children and professionals), existed in plain English 15 YEARS AGO!!

The evidence and the Timeline posted from the Guardian article are just jaw droopingly shocking.
I suspect the Tavi lawyers have gone for the “you are ALL lying” as there is absolutely no actual defence!

Thank you so much for the live posts on this thread.