Looked After Children and their gender identity - Find a freedom of information request

For the purpose of these questions, 'sex' refers to a child's biological sex, whereas gender refers to perceived gender identity that a person may consider they have, that may or may not match their biological sex.

Please provide any information that you hold in relation to the questions below:

1. Information relating to the total number of Looked After Children in your care.

2. Information relating to the number of Looked After Children in your care currently who have expressed that they may be a different gender to their sex or expressed a wish to change their gender. I would like to know:

a. The total number of such children

In addition, if you can provide the information below without identifying children, I would also like to know:

3. The number of such children aged 10 and under. The number of such children who are:

                                                              i.      Biologically male; i.e. their sex at birth was male

                                                            ii.      Biologically female; i.e. their sex at birth was female

4. Information relating to the number of Looked After Children in your care who have been referred to an NHS Service in the last 48 months due to their expression of gender dysphoria, gender incongruence, or the belief that their gender identity is different to their sex.

5. Documents relating to any training or resources you have used from an external provider (charity or commercial organisation) on gender identity, sex and sexuality, or transition in the last 48 months.

If training has been provided, please provide details of the organisations who provided the training, the date, and the cost to the Local Authority.

6. A copy of all your policies relating to transgender or gender questioning Looked After Children.

7. Who, if anyone, would the Local Authority consult before allowing a Looked After Child to socially transition (i.e. identify as a different gender to their sex). Please name all relevant roles.

8. Whether you are a member of any Stonewall schemed including their 'Diversity Champion' scheme

9. Whether you have been a member of any Stonewall schemes in the last 48 months. Any application you have made to Stonewall to be a 'Stonewall Diversity Champion' or to be included on Stonewall's 'Workplace Equality Index'.

1. 783.

2. Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) do not routinely collate the information.

Any refined request will be treated as a new request under the Freedom of Information Act.

3.

i. 139.

ii. 94

4. Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) do not routinely collate the information.

5. LCC has a practice lead session which was delivered internally to managers on LGBTQ+. No external training has been commissioned.

6. Please see links below:

https://lincolnshirechildcare.proceduresonline.com/g_sexual_health.html

https://lincolnshirechildcare.proceduresonline.com/p_dom_abuse.html

https://lincolnshirescb.proceduresonline.com/files/gender_id_guidance.pdf?zoom_highlight=transgender#search=%22transgender%22

7. Depending on the age of the child and their wishes, parents, CAMHS or other relevant professionals could be consulted with. Each child's needs are individual, children would be supported to socially transition if this is their wish.

8. LCC is not involved with Stonewall.

9. LCC has never been a member of Stonewall or applied to be a member of Stonewall.