equality and diversity

The benefits of diversity in a society are the advantages a society gain from diversity.

Diversity helps in meeting different people from different countries, thus helping to

learn different culture, different food, various religions, different language and people

coming together to socialise. Being open to other cultures enriches everyone and

means that our everyday lives are more interesting, even at the basic levels as the

types of food we eat. Fashion often borrows from other cultures, and popular music

has benefited from cultural influences. Example Notting hill carnival

Diversity helps increase a society economics gains. Diversity opens the opportunity

for others to explore their skills in other country. These include nurses from countries

such as South Africa into Britain and the Philippians. All these contribute to economic

growth. Other benefits from diversity are forms of complementary medicine, such as

Acupuncture, massage and aromatherapy, which have their roots in others culture.

For example, in the 1950s when demand for new housing was high and the numbers

of available workers in short supply, Italians were encourage to come to England to

work in the brick-making industry and many stayed and settled in the Midlands. We

only have to visit our local supermarket or walk down the streets on our towns to see

the influence of diversity on society. The variety of food available tells its own story

as there are tastes and texture from around the world on our doorstep. We can eat food

in our own homes that previously we would have had to travel far and wide to

experience. Exotic fruits, vegetables and spices have been arriving in Britain for a

long time but now more than ever before these are the basis of everyday food fro

many people rather than the privileged few. Much of the music we listen to has been

greatly influenced by Africa music, mediated through black Americans whether it is

rhythm and blues, jazz, hip-hop, soul or rock, Artists such as Picasso were, fro

example, influence by Africa art while other creative arts including fashion and

design demonstrate the diversity of ideas and influence that come from other cultures

and experiences. The increase number of people from diverse background, cultures

and race that are noticeable in public life, whether in the popular media of TV, music,

entertainment and film, sport or in high profile jobs such as MPs, lawyers and

academics have all contributed to second and third generation black British people

finding an identity which confirms their position in society as one of equality.

As society changes, there is a need to develop a better understanding, one that

engenders tolerance and acceptance of diversity.

Multicultural society is made up of people from different countries and backgrounds

living and working together in villages, towns and cities. One benefit of living

socially diverse society is the easy access we all have to a range of different traditions

and arts forms from all around the world. Another benefit is the wide variety of foods

that are available. Many people enjoy foods that contain spices, herbs and fruit

flavoured while other people enjoy food that is less spices.

The social Cashion and cultural change that have resulted from people from around

the world setting or just passing through Britain has left a legacy. Each group of

migrants has left their mark and caused Britain to develop and progress as a society.

Sometimes we have actively sought the help of people from other countries in order to

fuel that progress economically. Fro example, in the 1950s when the demand for new

housing was high and the numbers of available workers in short supply, Italians were

encouraged to come to England to work in the brick-making industry and many

stayed in the midlands.

Tolerance is important to ensure that everyone has equal opportunities. And it is the

recognition of the fact that everyone is different. This can lead to social cohesion

which means that groups within society will reflect unity.

Respecting diversity means accepting and appreciating that all service users are

different. This lead to promoting fair and equal opportunities, as society changes,

there is a need to develop a better understanding, one that engenders tolerance and

acceptance of diversity.

As part of the National Curriculum in school, children and young people are taught to

value to value diversity through exploring other cultures and world religions, as these

are more representative of the population. As society changes, there is a need to

develop a better understanding, one that engenders tolerance and acceptance of

diversity.

The English language is already formed from a complete mix of other French through

to Latin, Germanic, Celtic and Nordic. New groups of settlers into the country are

also bringing elements of their language with them. These new words are slowly

being assimilated into everyday speech. Other language users bring additional

benefits. For example, having the opportunity to live and work with people from other

countries.

References:

Eleanor Langride, 2007, BTEC Health and Social Care Book1, Page 49,

Publisher Nelson Thrones Ltd, Place Delta Place.

Beryl Stretch and Mary Whitehouse, 2007, BTEC Health and Social Care

Book 1, page 50 and 51, Publisher Heinemann, Place Harcourt Education

Limited.

Handouts from Tutor

Describe how legislation, code of practice, rules of conduct, charters and organisational policies are used to promoting anti-discriminatory practice at Oudrine house.

Legislation: This is a written laws made by Parliament or a provincial

legislature Acts) or by a person or body that has law-making authority, usually

delegated by Parliament or a legislature and exercised by making regulations or other

delegated legislation.

Code of practice: This is a set of rules which everyone in the society is

expected to abide. These rules are compulsory to abide by everyone in the society.

Human rights legislation

The Human Rights Acts 1988. It is yet to predict the implementation of human rights

act 1988.it enables people to enforce their rights under the convention in British court

and other legislation must be compatible with the act.

Article 2 of the human Rights Acts: Protection of life.

The right to life provision of the convention will be very important in health settings.

It will have to consider in matters such as whether to switch off life support systems

and abortion.

Article 3: Prohibition of torture and inhuman and degrading treatment:

The failure to provide proper health care or social care and failure to protect children

from abuse, neglectful treatment of clients may be covered by this article. Refusal of

contract between parents and children in care may be contested on this ground. Life

prolonging treatment which causes pain may be covered.

Article 9: Freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

This article promotes the ability of clients to practice their religion. The rights of

residents in care homes to follow religious practices will be protected.

The Mental Health Act: The mental health Acts are designed to ensure an

individual’s rights are not infringed and they are treated in an equitable manner in

terms of access to objective assessment and treatment. The Act outlines the

arrangements for the compulsory detention of people with mental health needs for

assessment or treatment and also includes the guardianship of individuals with mental

health needs in the interests of their welfare or for the protection of others.

The Mental Health Act 1983: This act allows someone to be taken to be hospital and

kept there against their will for assessment or treatment if:

*They are suffering from mental disorder

*Being kept in the hospital against their will is the only way to protect their health, to

prevent them from harming themselves or harming others, or to protect others from

harm. This policy also has powers to detain someone in a public place if they have reason to suspect that they are suffering from a mental disorder.

Patient’s Charter: This promotes equal rights by stating patient’s rights and the

standard that they can expect from services.

Patient’s charter: Everyone has the right under the charter to:

*Decide which pharmacy to use for your prescriptions and have the appropriate drugs

and medicine prescribed.

*Receive health care on the basis of clinical need.

*Get emergency medical treatment at any time

*Be offered a health check when you join a GP’s list

*Receive information about the services your GP provides.

Policy

No Smoking Policy

We all have the right to breathe air that is free from tobacco smoke. You are no longer

able to smoke in any enclosed public place or building. You are not allowed to smoke

in your own car if it is used on a regular basis to transport people.

If you are caught smoking in a public building for example the college then you could

face disciplinary action and even be remove from your course.

Your place of work does not legally have to provide somewhere for you to smoke and

can insist you are off the premises completely before lighting up.

Care/nursing homes and mental health hospitals are exempt from the no smoking in

an enclosed space. However this does not mean you are allowed to smoke anywhere

you want. You must only smoke in the room that has been dedicated solely for the

purpose of smoking.

Sex Discrimination: The Act makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person on

the ground of their sex or marital status. This legislation applies across all areas of life

in education, as a consumer and particularly in relation to the recruitment, selection,

promotion or training of personnel.

Sex Discrimination policy

Sexual harassment is unwanted sexual advances in any form. This is irrespective of

the victim or predators sexual orientation.

It is against the law to discriminate against somebody because of his or her sex,

gender or sexual orientation. Everyone is entitled to be treated in the same way

regardless of the above.

You are not allowed to place an advert for a job stating a preference to sex, gender or

age and you are also not allowed to pay a man more than a woman who is doing the

same job with the same experience.

It should be known that the legislation protects people that are regarded by others to

be of a particular sexual orientation. However the law does not protect people because

of their involvement of particular sexual practices such paedophilia

Reference:

Eleanor Langride, 2007, BTEC Health and Social Care Book1, Pages 69,70 and 71, Publisher Nelson Thrones Ltd, Place Delta Place.



Limited.

Explain how those working in health and social care settings can actively

promote anti-discriminatory practice. (P5 and P6) Describe ways of reflecting on

and challenging discriminatory issues in health and social care (p6)

I will be explaining how care workers at Oudrain house can promote diversity, equality and respects the right of service users and promote anti-discriminatory.

*Care workers not making assumptions about their service users promote equality,

value diversity and respect rights of the service user.

*Care workers must be ethnically sensitive that is respecting individual’s cultural

values, cultural needs and practices.

*Care workers should not stereotype. They should always respond to individual

uniqueness.

*Care workers should not encourage trainee to develop discriminatory attitudes. Thus

not expressing racial attitudes and actions. They should not become a barrier to good

practices.

*Care workers should develop self-awareness of their own attitude, opinion and views

to make them confident in their interaction.

*Taking steps to learn about people’s culture and perspectives of life.

*Making sure that they focus on fostering, and maintaining the dignity of service

user’s. Like using the preferred name to address the individual.

*Empowering service user. That is enabling service users to take control of things

such as decision making by providing them with choice. Care workers having powers

over services users are discriminating.

*Care workers should learn about service users’ beliefs, pratices, values and life

experience of service users. This can be done through staff training sessions, picking

up information on the internet and talking to service users about their background,

beliefs and culture.

*Care workers should encourage reflection, to promote healthy attitudes, to look

critically at whatever the service user is actually doing in their day-to-day task.

*Knowing how to challenge discriminatory pratice.This is reporting direct and

indirect discriminatory behaviour.

*Seeking up to date training so that they can consider issues and learn sharing with

others.

Care worker can promote equality for service users

*Giving out information to the client about the service they offer.

*Care worker should put posters around the care home so that service users know what is going on at the care home.

*Care worker should give out information to client about the service they offer.

*Care workers having one to one meeting with the service users, thus allowing them to express their right.

The procedures that could be taken to challenge discrimination are:

*Making sure all workers and clients are warned to avoid discrimination in the health and social care sector.

*By offering services in different term, to identify the key element of anti-discriminatory practice in relation to these different.

*Anybody who discriminates can face charges.

The procedures that can be put in place are

*There should be guest speaker to talk to them about discrimination and the effects.

*There should be discussion so that workers do not forget the rules of discrimination.

*There should be regular meetings to remind staff about the service they should offer.

One way a social care setting can challenge anti discriminatory is through staff

development and training this may be done formally through supervision sessions or

more informally in the course of day to day working. The manager should supervise

the work of their staff, offer advice and guidance in difficult situations and help the

workers identify training opportunities to improve their practise.

Organisational polices also play a big factor when trying to reflect on and challenge

discriminatory issues in health and social care. Organisation polices will regulate

workers day to day relations with their service users .There should be policies on

vulnerable service users, as well as service standards to inform workers and service

users about expected standards and equal opportunities.

Many service users are reluctant to ask for support and will try to deal with issues

themselves. Therefore providing active support requires a sensitive approach.

Support can take many forms and it is important to recognise both the forms and the

amounts of support that may be required. All of our service users are individuals and

therefore need vary amounts of support, in some cases on daily basis. Individuals

needs to be protected from harm and allowed access to information. They also need to

be cared fro in a way that meets their needs and takes account of their choices, and

protects.

The role of work practises in promoting service users rights is particularly important.

A few examples of these appropriate work practises include service users being able

to protect their private space, to lock the door of their room and expect staff to ask

permission before entering. All service users should have the choice over what to eat,

what to wear, what activities they are addressed by staff and workers, as well as when

to get up, have meals and even when to bath. But above all of these suggested and

appropriate work practises, dignity and privacy must be particular consideration when

helping service users with intimate care tasks. Care should be offered in way that

maximises independence and should also be encouraged to do things for themselves,

rather than the worker taking over to save time. All care and work practises must be

approached with a great degree of tact and support, as all service users are valued and

important.

References:

Eleanor Langride, 2007, BTEC Health and Social Care Book1, Page 69,70 and 71, Publisher Nelson Thrones Ltd, Place Delta Place.



Limited.

Difficulties that may be encountered when implementing anti-discriminatory practice.

The very nature of health and social care work suggests that the individuals being

supported are vulnerable. As we seen through this unit, this vulnerability is often

related to ‘difference ‘in terms of capability or levels of independence. Vulnerability

may be related to physical, emotional, financial or social well-being. Sometimes this

vulnerability may include being vulnerable to discrimination but views of which is

likely to be prejudice. For example, staff can label clients as being ‘difficult’; or

having, challenging behaviour’. Promoting equality by treating everyone the same

denies the reality that everyone is different and so we should be striving to promote

equity where these essential differences are acknowledged and people are seen treated

as individuals but with an equal amount of care, respect and attention, and the quality

is the same but the responses are individual.

Ethical principles

Ethical principles are those which can be judged fair. Positive ethical approaches to

health and social care practice are essential if individual being supported are to be

treated with equity.

Dealing with conflict

Conflict should be managed in as clam a manner as possible and, if possible, help

from colleague should be sought so that everyone involved can be adequately

supported and listened to in order to avoid assumptions and judgements, which may

be discriminatory, being made. An important part of anti-discriminatory practice is

ensuring that health and social care workers to challenging the attitude view or

behaviour, and not the person as an individual.

Putting the patients or service user at the heart of service provision

Ensuring that every individual who comes into contact with any type of health or

social care service is treated as a unique individual is essential if this is to be

achieved. Health and social care workers need to take time to get to know and build

relationships with individual s if they are to be beliefs, culture and preferences. This

will enable the worker to better understand the individual’s past and thus their present

situation, and will inform decisions regarding their future.

Balancing individual rights with the rights of others

Having rights also means the individual has responsibilities and this includes not

infringing the rights of others. Balancing individual rights with the rights of others can

present health and social care workers with some difficult dilemmas, tensions and

potential and actual conflicts. These can occur between service users, the service user

and the organisation, and between the worker and the organisation. For example, if

one service user has a hearing impairment and consequently when they listen to music

it is louder than others have a right to peace and quit. This can lead to conflict. One

way of easing this tension and avoiding conflict is to provide earphones for the

service user.

Identifying and challenging discrimination

Challenging discrimination shows that in fact, you are not discriminating against

those whose behaviour, view; attitudes and so on are discriminatory. If we fail to

challenge such views or behaviours, it suggests that we have made a decision or

assumption about person’s capacity to change, and we assume their views are so

entrenched that they are incapable capacity, which in itself is discriminatory. The way

we challenge is what is important. It is therefore essential to challenging the attitude,

view or behaviour, and not the person as an individual. Being respectful and assertive

are key attitudes and values when challenging someone. Challenging discrimination

may be on an organisation or society level. Although individual can feel powerless to

change things outside their immediate sphere of influence, it is not impossible to

challenge discrimination that is institutional or structural.

References:

Eleanor Langride, 2007, BTEC Health and Social Care Book1, Page 49, Publisher Nelson Thrones Ltd, Place Delta Place.



Limited.

How personal beliefs a value systems may influence own anti-discriminatory practice.

Personal beliefs and value systems

Our personal beliefs and values play role in our responses to difference. We are all

unique individuals and our identity develops as we grow, learn and experience life

and new things. Many different factors influence that we all have an individual views

of the world which is unique and unless we share our views with other people remains

unknown to them.

Developing greater self- awareness and tolerance of differences

If individual are given access to appropriate opportunities, such as learning about

equality and diversity, personal experiences of relationships with people from diverse

backgrounds, they respect and trust, this can assist them to develop greater self-

awareness and tolerance of difference. However, it is important to recognise that our

views and beliefs can change as we travel through life and our experiences teach us

new things about the world and about ourselves, so there is always the potential for

change whatever someone’s age.

Working within legal, ethical and policy guidelines

Health and social care practice is underpinned by legislation, ethics and other from

research and government. All of those will be reflected within organisational policies.

However, their mere existence dose not guarantees automatic implantation and

adherence. In reality, this can be achieved through the day-to –day practice, attitudes

and behaviours of all those who work within care setting. There have to be regular

supervision of practice will enable the health and social care workers to make them

work within legal, ethical and policy guidelines.

Committing to the care value base

To enable became a health and social care worker will involve you considering you

own beliefs and values and how theses impact on your life, behaviour, decision and

relationships with others. Some care workers are often not aware of the prejudices and

assumption they hold as they are so ingrained in their thinking. We need to be open to

challenging our thinking and to exploring these aspects of ourselves. If we are to be

effective in developing supportive relationships with individuals then we must

understand ourselves first, otherwise we are in danger of discriminatory action and

becoming part of the problem and not of the solution in that individual’s life. To

enable an effective health or social care worker you need to internalise these values

and demonstrate them in every aspect of life.

References:

Eleanor Langride, 2007, BTEC Health and Social Care Book1, Page 49, Publisher Nelson Thrones Ltd, Place Delta Place.

equality and diversity

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