Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in Healthcare: A Guide for Care Workers, Study Guides, Projects, Research of Religion

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THE CARE CERTIFICATE WORKBOOK

Equality and

Diversity

The CARE CERTIFICATE

Standard

What you need to know

THE CARE CERTIFICATE WORKBOOK STANDARD 4

Equality and

Diversity,

Inclusion and

Discrimination

Equality is about treating people alike according to their needs. You should make sure that everyone is given equality of opportunity. For example, you may need to give information in different formats (for example Braille) or make sure there is access to a building for an individual in a wheelchair.

Diversity can be described as ‘difference’. All individuals are different; the many different parts of a person’s character and identity make them unique. Examples of the things that make up diversity are:

Promoting equality and

respecting diversity are central

to life today. To provide care and

support that meets the needs of

everyone you have to understand

what these terms mean and take

account of them in your work.

  Age   Appearance   Ability   Disability   Job role   Health

  Background   Gender   Family   Friends   Sexual orientation   Religion

  Belief   Values   Culture   Race   National origins   Marital status.

Inclusion is ‘being included within either a group or society as a whole’. Inclusion links with diversity and equality. It is important to understand someone’s differences so that you can include them and treat them equally and fairly. People can feel excluded if they are not able to join in with activities. Excluding people because of their differences is known as ‘discrimination’. All workers in health and social care must make sure that they work in an inclusive way to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to take part when they want to. This is especially true about people taking part in their own care and support so that it is truly centred on them as a person.

Discrimination is action that is often based on a person’s negative attitude towards others. The following can all lead to discrimination:   labelling   stereotyping   prejudice.

It involves treating people differently because of assumptions made about a person or group of people based on their differences. Negative attitudes and behaviours exist in society that can lead to individuals or groups being oppressed or disadvantaged.

THE CARE CERTIFICATE WORKBOOK STANDARD 4

  work in an inclusive way that sees the positive input that all individuals can make to society and to their own care   be confident to challenge or confront discriminatory practice if you see this in your workplace.

Person-centred care

There are many aspects to a person that you must understand in order to meet their individual needs. The person is always the expert on their own care.

Holistic

The term ‘holistic’ means to look at all aspects that make up a person. It means seeing how all those aspects are integrated and can have an impact on each other. Therefore, we don’t just view people from one perspective, but we look at all factors, including their thinking processes and the physical, emotional, social and cultural aspects of who they are. This helps to provide person-centred care.

Courage

Be courageous to challenge or confront situations that you know are not right and that do not promote the wellbeing of all individuals.

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THE CARE CERTIFICATE WORKBOOK STANDARD 4

Valuing diversity

To work in ways that are inclusive you need to understand and value the things that make people different. The care and support you provide must be specific to each individual’s needs, wishes and preferences. It should be person-centred care which builds in the likes and dislikes, beliefs and personal history of an individual to meet their needs in the best way possible.

The Equality Act 2010 and protected characteristics

Every human being in the UK has rights and freedoms which apply regardless of their situation or characteristics. Equality and inclusion are basic human rights.

The Equality Act 2010 makes it against the law for people to be treated unfairly because of the things that make them different. The Act sets out how individuals should experience equality of opportunity and lists a number of ‘protected characteristics’ that help to safeguard them from discrimination.

Promoting equality and respecting diversity help to ensure that people are valued and have the same access to all opportunities whatever their differences.

Protected characteristics

Stated in the Equality Act 2010, they aim to protect these groups of individuals from experiencing discrimination. The protected nine characteristics are:   Age   Disability   Gender reassignment   Marriage and civil partnership   Pregnancy and maternity   Race   Religion or belief   Sex   Sexual orientation www.gov.uk/equality-act-2010-guidance

The Act also provides protection for individuals who experience discrimination by association with someone who has a protected characteristic.

Other legislation

Your role as a health or care worker is governed by a number of different laws in addition to the Equality Act 2010.

THE CARE CERTIFICATE WORKBOOK STANDARD 4

  Work in collaboration with your colleagues to ensure the delivery of high quality, safe and compassionate healthcare, care and support   Communicate in an open, and effective way to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of people who use health and social care services and their carers   Respect a person’s right to confidentiality   Strive to improve the quality of healthcare, care and support through continuing professional development   Uphold and promote equality, diversity and inclusion.

Reflecting to discover discrimination

It is important to reflect on your work and to think about how you can improve the care and support that you provide to others. Discrimination is unacceptable and should be confronted whenever it is found, whether in your own work, or in that of others. Working in a reflective way is one way that can help you to identify if and where your own values and beliefs lead to unfair treatment of others. ‘Reflective practice’ means thinking about what you or others have done, what happened as a result and whether you or they could do anything differently in future to get a better outcome. If reflection leads you to see that individuals are being treated unfairly, you should discuss this with your manager who will be able to take action to make sure that the poor practice is properly challenged and positive change is encouraged.

Information, advice and support

In the course of your work there may be times when you need to take action to find out more information about diversity, equality and inclusion. This might be as a result of:   reflecting on your own work and finding that you need to develop your skills and knowledge   needing to know how to apply the principles of diversity, equality and inclusion to an unfamiliar situation   witnessing discrimination or unfair treatment in someone else’s work and needing advice on how to deal with it.

Information, advice and support in relation to diversity, equality, inclusion and discrimination can be found in a number of places. Reflecting on situations and experiences will help you to decide if you do need further information, support or advice; this will help you to develop as a worker.

Sources of information, advice and support could include:   looking into the ways of working of your organisation   checking out the Care Quality Commission’s Essential Standards of quality and safety   speaking to your manager for advice and guidance and for extra support or for ideas on where to go or who to speak to for further information

THE CARE CERTIFICATE WORKBOOK STANDARD 4

  making use of informal meetings or discussions with other workers and formal appraisals or supervision with managers for additional guidance or to ask specific questions   undertaking your own research on the internet, for example looking at the Equality and Human Rights Commission or your Social Service’s or NHS website.

Reflect

To think over your experiences in a way that will help you to learn for the future. This may mean you think about how you approach a situation differently next time or a strategy you will use again because it worked well.

THE CARE CERTIFICATE WORKBOOK STANDARD 4

Activity 4.1a

Complete the table below to

explain the key terminology

in your own words.

Describe - To describe means to create

a picture with words but not simply writing

a list of bullet points.

Explain - to explain something you will

need to provide a clear account of your

understanding, including details like why

and how.

Diversity Equality Inclusion Discrimination

THE CARE CERTIFICATE WORKBOOK STANDARD 4

Activity 4.1b

Discrimination may happen

deliberately or by mistake

within social care or health

settings. For each of the

examples below, describe

the discrimination that

is happening including

whether it is deliberate or

inadvertent (by mistake).

Describe - To describe means to create

a picture with words but not simply writing

a list of bullet points.

Describe - to describe means to create a

picture with words but not simply writing

a list of bullet points.

Example 1: A community group organises activities in a village hall that does not have access that is suitable for individuals who are wheelchair users.

Example 2: In a hospital a volunteer gives smaller portions of food to women than men because they believe that men have bigger appetites.

Deliberate

Deliberate

Inadvertent

Inadvertent

THE CARE CERTIFICATE WORKBOOK STANDARD 4

Activity 4.1c

There are a number of ways that

can help to reduce the likelihood

of discrimination happening in a

workplace. Explain how practices

that support equality and diversity,

such as working in a person-

centred way, can help to reduce

discrimination in the workplace.

Working in a person-centred way can help to reduce the likelihood of discrimination because...

Explain - to explain something

you will need to provide a clear

account of your understanding,

including details like why and

how.

THE CARE CERTIFICATE WORKBOOK STANDARD 4

Activity 4.2a

On the diagram below,

identify which legislation

and codes of practice or

conduct relating to equality,

diversity and discrimination

apply to you as a care

worker.

Describe - To describe means to create

a picture with words but not simply writing

a list of bullet points.

Identify - point out, highlight or note

down the main answers or examples

that relate to the subject.

Legislation

and codes of

practice relating

to equality,

diversity and

discrimination

THE CARE CERTIFICATE WORKBOOK STANDARD 4

Activity 4.3a

On the diagram below,

identify a range of sources

of information, advice and

support about diversity,

equality and inclusion.

Sources of

information,

advice and

support about

diversity, equality

and inclusion

include...

Identify - point out, highlight or note

down the main answers or examples

that relate to the subject.

THE CARE CERTIFICATE WORKBOOK STANDARD 4

Activity 4.3b and c

Think about situations when you may need additional

information, advice and support. Fill in the table below

to demonstrate how you would try to find additional

information, advice and support about diversity,

equality and inclusion. One example situation has

been done for you. For the second example think of a

situation that can happen in your own work.

When would you access information, advice and support?

How would you access information, advice and support?

Whom would you ask for advice and support in relation to this and why?

1. You realise that your knowledge of dementia could be improved in order to support an individual’s specific communication needs.