Understand the concepts of equality,
diversity and rights in relation to health and
social care
It is really important in this
learning outcome that you
can use the correct
vocabulary in your work.
Understand the concepts of equality, diversity
and rights in relation to health and social care
Learning
Outcome The learner
will:
Understand
concepts of
equality,
diversity and
rights in
relation to
health and
social care
Assessment
Criteria - The
learner can:
Merit
in addition to the
pass criteria the
learner can:
Distinction
in addition to the pass
and merit criteria the
learner can:
1P
Explain the
concepts of
equality, diversity
and rights in
relation to health
and social care
1M
Describe how
practitioners
should apply
values of care in a
health or social
care service
1D
Analyse the benefits of
understanding diversity
in relation to health
and social care
What is Diversity?
• Diversity is:
•
•
•
•
•
•
People being different
People thinking different things
People looking different to the care worker
People believing in different things
People living a different life style choice
People valuing different things in life
Fostering Diversity
• To be able to do this a care worker has to understand
what diversity means
• We are not all the same; we do not all believe the
same things or make the same life style choices.
• A care worker should learn to appreciate their
service users, what ever their beliefs, choices or
preferences.
• A care worker who values diversity will listen, and be
fair to all people – what ever their own opinions
Diversity
•
•
•
•
Belief
Sexual Orientation
Values
Ethnicity
• Understand different religions
and cultures
• Don’t let your own views
prejudice your care of people
who choose same sex partners
• Understand your values but
respect a service users values –
they may be different
• Make sure there are no barriers
to care
• Make sure there is equal access
for service users and your care
gives equal benefit to each of
them, no matter what their
culture.
Fostering Equality in Care Settings
• Anti discrimination practice
• Equal access for service users
• Equal benefit for service users
Policies include:
Recruitment
Complaints
Recording of information
Confidentiality
Providing Advocates
Use of language
Staff training
Maintaining rights
• Meeting needs of ALL people
• Anti discrimination practice
includes understanding policies
and procedures
• One group of people are not
given special treatment
• Barriers to care are taken away
• Care is given equally, not
according to money, status or
race
• People who are disabled are
catered for
• Staff are trained to foster equality
Policies include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Recruitment
Complaints
Recording of information
Confidentiality
Providing Advocates
Use of language
Staff training
Maintaining rights
Remember you are writing
For a primary trust – they
Will be hiring people, wanting to
Know about policies etc
It is very important within the Primary Trust that managers understand the
importance of equality. This applies to both service users and care workers.
For example every care setting should have well written policies that describe
how to apply equality to working life. When recruiting staff the manager
should hire because of people’s experience and qualifications, not because
they are a female. All complaints should be taken seriously, even if they seem
silly or from a service user that is always complaining about little things. This
will make the service users feel valued and will promote equality. If a service
user needs an advocate the manager should find one that is suitable and is
trained to do a good job. All care workers should be trained to understand
equality – this may include what language to use in which situations…….
Domiciliary
care
Day Care
Hospice
Centres
Nurseries
Health and
social care
settings
Hospitals
Residential
care
Nursing Care
Social, cultural and economic diversity
faith
employment
gender
Sexuality
education
The arts
age
Music
Family
structure
Social
class
food
expertise
language
Dress
Understand different religions and cultures
Don’t let your own views prejudice your care of people who choose same sex partners
Understand your values but respect a service users values – they may be different
Make sure there are no barriers to care
Make sure there is equal access for service users and your care gives equal benefit to each of them, no matter
what their culture.
Diversity is an important issue in the area that the Primary Trust operates. There
are many types of diversity – religion, culture and language are three examples.
However people may also be diverse in their education, the food they like, what
activities they would like to do and their family background. Care workers needs to
appreciate these differences and make sure that they understand them. For
example a care worker may have been brought up by a mother and a father. They
should not show any prejudices to those that have been raised by two fathers or a
single mother. There should be respect shown to those who have different sexual
preferences, this includes those that work on the same team.
The managers of the care settings in the Primary Trust should ensure that there are
no barriers to care and that their care workers understand different religions and
cultures. The care settings may like to have a small “library” of resources
explaining each religion and culture that is found within the area. Training can be
given to the care workers in make sure they recognise cultural differences such the
need to fast, need to pray and the choice of meal.
• What rights should we have?
–Students in 6th form
–Adults in Suffolk
–Adults in a care home
Right
To be respected and treated as an
individual
To be treated equally and free from
discrimination
To be allowed privacy
To be treated in a dignified way
To be cared for in a manner that meets
their needs
T have access to information about
themselves and confidentiality
To have effective communication and use
preferred methods of communication
To be protected from danger and harm
To have their preferences and choices
taken account of.
Responsibilities and how to show them.
Right
Responsibilities and how to demonstrate the right
To be respected and treated as an
individual
Respect others.
Show an interest in the service user and value them as an individual
To be treated equally and free
from discrimination
Accept others have a right to live differently; do not discriminate against others on the
basis that their culture, lifestyle or identity is different. Ensure all service users have
equal access to services
To be allowed privacy
Respect other people’s privacy.
Ensure the door is closed when carrying out personal hygiene tasks
To be treated in a dignified way
Respect other people’s dignity.
Treat service users with respect and promote self esteem
To be cared for in a manner that
meets their needs
To understand other’s needs.
Ensure that the needs of the service users is at the centre of all planning
To have access to information
about themselves and
confidentiality
To keep other people’s information confidential.
Ensure service users are present at meetings and that their files and
notes are secure.
To have effective communication
and use preferred methods of
communication
Use communication that does not offend or threaten.
Ensure all service users shave the right communication aids and know
how to use them. Use effective listening and clear communication,
checking that they understand.
To be protected from danger and
harm
Behave in a way that does not threaten or abuse the environment or
physical/emotional safety of others.
Ensure risk assessments have been done and keep service user’s
property and valuables safe
To have their preferences and
choices taken account of.
Understand the impact of choices made on other people.
Give the service user as many options as possible (e.g. menu, time to
get up, treatment) and give enough information. Ask about preferences.
Maintain
confidentiality
Promote
equality and
diversity
Promote rights
and
responsibilities
Care
Value
Base
See additional power point for
Application of care values.
Working
with others
Welfare of
child
paramount
Reflective
practioners
Anti
discriminatory
practice
Keeping child
safe
Early
Child
Values
confidentiality
Maintaining
a healthy
environment
Working in
partnership
With families
Equality of
opportunity
Valuing
diversity
Supporting
children’s
Learning and
development
Other cultures give us
different experiences in
music and arts, e.g. Bob
Marley, “Bolly wood”
People learn new
things from other
cultures
Phrases we use every
day have origins in
other cultures
Many foods are
available to us
from other cultures
Equal access to services
and participation in
Benefits to
diversity
Anti discrimination
practice is always
followed
People are
empowered and
feel independent
Inclusion
People feel respected
and dignified
We benefit from the
contribution of other at
work e.g. skills
empowerment
Antidiscriminatory
practice
participation
Independence
access
inclusion
opportunity
Benefits of
equality and
diversity for
service users
equality
dignity
respect
Scenario: Our local Primary Trust has asked you to look into improving equal
opportunities in our health, social care and early years provision.
Task
Task 1:
Write a report that explains the concepts of equality, diversity and rights in health
and social care settings.
This should include different types of resources that care organisations can use with
their staff to help them understand these important issues. (P1)
Task 2:
One organisation is very worried about care values and how to apply them. Produce
materials that will show what they are and how they can be applied in the
organisation. You may like to produce scenarios or role play games with “model”
answers. (M2)
Task 3:
The Primary trust wishes to consolidate the importance of equality, diversity and
rights to the managers of their care settings. You should produce a report, or
presentation, that will analyse the benefits of understanding these issues for both
practitioners and service users. You must include examples of good practice to
illustrate your analysis. (D2)