Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in Health and Social Care

• Sharon Heather Ferguson-Guy

Promote equality and inclusion in health social care or children’s and young people’s setting

Outcome 1 – Understand the importance of diversity, equality and inclusion

1:1 Explain what is meant by:

1. Diversity – the word diversity means a different and varied. In the United Kingdom you will find people are different and varied in lots of ways. For example, people who have originated from many different countries, people from different ethnic background, people of different genders with different sexual preferences, people with different values and beliefs, people with different interests and people from different economic backgrounds. We must try and create an environment so that everybody feels valued as a person.

2. Equality – to have equal opportunities means having equal access to things that influence our quality of life and life prospects. To have a fairer society where all that wish too, can participate and have the opportunity to fulfil their wants and needs no matter what disabilities, gender, religion, sexual orientation, beliefs, race and cultural differerences.

3. Inclusion – when individuals are included they often end up with a quality of life that is better than they would reasonably expect. Inclusion is when everyone gets a chance to participate and be part of the team. It is also to feel and be respected and to take part in activities no matter what disadvantages they may have.

1:2 Describe the potential effects of discrimination:

The potential effects of discrimination are that individuals often end up with a quality of life for lower than they would reasonably expect. Historically discrimination has sometimes been a matter of life and death. In some countries and cultures some of the effects of discrimination, include individuals being generally treated as outsiders and second class citizens, or being subjected to physical attacks and verbal abuse or individuals could be denied education jobs or opportunities. Discrimination can be that of verbal abuse, humiliation, intimidation, and mistreatment.

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The effects of this can make the individual feel stressed, low self esteem, unwanted, angry, which leads to behaviour problems, feeling isolated, unable to cope, feeling depressed, guilty, anxiety, loss of confidence. The physical effects would in turn be that of changes of eating habits, weight loss, weight gain, poor appetite, headaches, and sleeplessness, lack of energy, communication problems, and deterioration of health.

1:3 Explain how inclusive practice promotes equality and supports diversity:

Inclusive practice promotes equality and supports diversity so individuals often end up with a better quality of life. To promote equality and diversity and ensures that the user is treated as an individual so as not to be excluded so, to value any differences and embrace full potential of their own personal needs and wants. Every user have a personal care plan which has been put together and is all about them, no two care plans are the same so each have their own individual needs. So each user will be treated equally and by recognising their diversity when assessing their care plans.

Outcome 2 – Work in an inclusive way

2:1 Explain how legislation and codes of practice relating to equality diversity and discrimination apply to your own work role

The codes of practice that relate to my work role are as part of The Person Centred Care Approach. I must respect patients in terms of their religion or sexuality and treat all individuals equally. I am aware to uphold their human rights and make sure they are not being discriminated against.

Below are the legislations that relate to my work role:

The Equality Act 2010 is the law which bans unfair treatment and helps gain equal opportunities in the workplace. The act replaces anti-discrimination laws from before with a single act to make it simpler to rid of any inconsistencies. The act covers nine protected areas about treating people unfairly so it does not happen. They are:

• Disability
• Age
• Sex
• Sexual orientation
• Gender reassignment
• Religion or beliefs
• Race
• Pregnancy and maternity
• Marriage and civil partnership

The Equality Act sets out to prevent unfair treatment in the workplace, the different ways in areas that people are treated unlawfully; it may be direct or indirect victimisation. Unfair treatment should be a thing of the past, but, it still goes on in today’s society.

This law replaces:

• Disability Discrimination Act 1995
• Employment Equality (Religion or Beliefs) Regulation 2003
• Equal Pay Act 1976
• The Race Relations Act 1976
• The Sex Discrimination Act 1975
• Human rights Act 1998 – this has 16 basic rights that affect the aspects of human rights.

There is also a Code of Practice which relates to my work role which is from the General Social Care Council (GSCC) Codes of Practice – it describes the standards and conduct for social care workers and employers. So I must:

• I am to be accountable for the quality of work that I do and to take responsibility for keeping up and improving my knowledge and skills.
• Encourage the independence of the patient while protecting them as far as possible from danger or harm.
• Protect the rights and promote the interest of patients and fellow colleagues.
• Respect the rights and choices of patients whilst making sure that their behaviour does not cause harm to themselves or other people.
• Maintain trust and confidence of patients and colleagues.
• Have the publics trust and confidence in social care services.

The Care Standards Act 2000 – this regulates independent health and care sector, this is done by health authorities as well as the local authority which has been overtaken by the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC), this became responsible for registering and inspecting all care homes and private healthcare facilities in the UK. April 2004 this was replaced with Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (CHAI). On 1st April 2009 they were both amalgamated to introduce the Care Quality Commission (CQC), it became responsible for inspecting the quality and monitor care homes in England.

Outcome 3 – Promote diversity equality and inclusion

Describe how to challenge discrimination in a way that promotes change

I would report any discrimination to my manager and also try to point out to the individual in a tactful manner that their actions were not acceptable under current legislation. I would also encourage them to embrace diversity and treat everyone equally and promote a positive outcome.