Safeguarding risk involving young people and 'trans' policy.

[Ayedresses]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3616180-I-dont-get-the-trans-debate-but-now-I-need-too?pg=1&order=

I work with teenagers. Our company policy has changed (I honestly believe due to miseducation) and the company has taken advice from mermaids.

The policy is now 'whatever the Young person wants to do' but all cis teenagers have separate accommodation/toileting/showering facilities.

Our new policy states of the equality act 2010 and that gender reassignment is a protected characteristic of this. It's a new process/policy and there's been a space to ask questions. I've been told on the other board that theres many women on this board would be better at helping me write an email to dispute this.

Thanks for posting here. There are some knowledgeable posters who have a lot of experience in writing clear letters on this subject. I'm not really one of them but I'm sure they will be along shortly.

A small point - the term 'cis' isn't technically allowed on this board (see the pinned mod rules) I understand you are just trying to make your OP clear but for the sake of not derailing a thread it's best to stick to guidelines.

@ovahere

Thanks so much for your reply. I really dont want to derail this thread. I must admit I've been a long term lurker popping my head over from time to time - hence why I knew that this 'policy' was holey at best.

I didn't mean to offend anyone with cis and I really don't want to derail the thread - in a way I was just using it as short hand as I was feeling lazy. I'll now pop to read the rules of the board :)

Our new policy states of the equality act 2010 and that gender reassignment is a protected characteristic of this.

This is true, but sex is also a protected characteristic. Organisations like Mermaids tend to misrepresent how the Equality Act works.

The Equality Act says that a person cannot be discriminated because of their sex or because of gender reassignment. What this means in practice is that a man who self-declares himself to be a woman cannot be treated differently or unfairly compared to any other man. It does not mean that he should be treated as though he has actually changed sex and should be treated exactly like a woman, although this is what Mermaids will no doubt tell you.

The protected characteristic of sex means that men can be kept out of women's spaces, however they identify. Mermaids will no doubt tell you otherwise, because they misrepresent the law to suit their own agenda.

Hold on aye. Will see if I can link

I can’t find what I am looking for.

Sure rowan or Jackie will be along with the links soon.

I suggest you also contact the insurance company for guidance.

See transgender Trend's Safeguarding guidance etc for schools as it will have all of the relevent law.

www.transgendertrend.com/

Ive posted on the AIBU thread.

Basically though the organisation has a duty of care to the children.

Sex (not gender identity mis termed as 'gender') is the key risk factor which informs the need for separate single sex accomodation /intimate spaces.

Organisations are failing Duty of Care & Safeguarding if they enable children to self id into opposite sex intimate spaces.

Organisations should be able to additionally support individual children/young people who may have additional needs and in some situations this may involve provision of individual accomodation. This should be handled sensitively and with the young person involved with decision making.

The language of 'trans' & 'gender' obscures the key Safeguarding issue which is sex & responsibility is for all children so any change in policy from sex to 'gender/gender id' should have included impact studies (it likely wont of so is not fit for purpose)

Sure rowan or Jackie will be along with the links soon.

Think Jackie may be suspended.
An advanced search should bring up all of her links re actual law though.

(funny how some posters are targetted eh?)