Equality and Inclusion in Health, Social Care or Children’s and Young People’s Settings

Understand equality and inclusion in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings.

• Learners need to be able to explain equality, diversity and inclusion within health, social care or children and young people’s settings. To do this they must explain what the terms refer to and why it is important e.g. Equality being equal rights and treatment of all individuals. Diversity being about the differences between individuals - for example - race, culture, gender, age, marital status, religion, disability, politics etc. Inclusion involves working with people in a way that recognises and respects their individuality.
• Learners must be able to give examples of how discrimination (treating someone unfairly based on the grounds of age, disability, gender, race, religious beliefs etc or treating someone less favourably than someone in the same situation or someone being unfairly disadvantaged or excluded) can occur directly or indirectly e.g. direct could be refusing to work with an individual because of their religion. Indirect could be providing services in a set way without consulting the individual.
• Learners should be able to identify the effects of discrimination on individuals and organisations. Effects on individuals could be physical and emotional - low self-esteem and self-worth, stress, depression.
• Consequences for the organisation can be immediate e.g. low standards of care, poor staff morale, high turn-over of staff and ultimately investigation, litigation and closing of services. Practices that promote equality and diversity and reduce the risk of discrimination should include: valuing people’s individuality; encouraging people to express their views and have them listened to; respecting, increasing and celebrating people’s differences. Putting individuals at the centre of care planning.

Legislation and codes of practice could include: Equality Act, Human Rights Act, Sex Discrimination Act, Disability Discrimination Act, Children Act, Care Standards Act, Health & Social Care Act, Mental Capacity Act. Codes of practice e.g. General Social Care Council. Importance of promoting equality and diversity in different settings may include:

• recognition that individuals have different needs irrespective of background, home circumstances, religion, culture
• settings are a role model for service users
• underpins values of health and social care and child care

Examples of discrimination may include:

• verbal and physical abuse
• social exclusion
• access to facilities

Reasons for the risk of discrimination being reduced where settings promote equality and diversity may include:

• discrimination is not tolerated
• everyone is respected and valued
• everyone works together to achieve the same goal

Key legislation includes the Equality Act 2010 and Children Act 2014

Assessment Criteria

• 1.1

  Explain why it is important that equality and diversity is promoted in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings.

• 1.2

  Outline examples of discrimination that could occur in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings.

• 1.3

  Explain how practices that promote equality and diversity reduce the risk of discrimination.

• 1.4

  Outline the key legal responsibilities of a health, social care or children’s and young people’s organisation in relation to equality and inclusion.

Know how to work in an inclusive way.

Learners will need to describe ways to work in an inclusive way with clients/children which respect beliefs, culture, values and preferences. This could include: providing care that is person centred, treating individuals as unique, working in agreed ways, challenging discriminatory practice.

They should know how to challenge and report discrimination within their organisation and from whom they can get information and support. This could be from their line manager or senior staff. Learners will need to know the policies and procedures on how to support and individual, make a complaint about discriminatory practices within an organisation. Learners will need to give a specific example of how to challenge discrimination that leads to more inclusive practice e.g. challenging staff who ignore details of an individual care plan about dietary preferences, ensuring that all staff are aware of an individual’s needs through training.

Ways of working that respects individuals may include:

• people centred approach
• provision of equipment and materials that promotes diversity
• appropriate use of language
• celebrating different cultures
• embed equality and diversity into everyday practice

Ways to challenge and report discrimination may include:

• following internal policies and procedures when reporting discrimination
• effective communication
• staff training
• speak with appropriate help-lines for advice

Sources of information about equality and diversity may include:

• Equality and Human Rights Commission
• Equality and Diversity UK
• Standard 4 www.SkillsforCare.org.uk

Ways to use information found could include:

• treating the individual you support as unique rather than treating everyone the same way
• ensuring that you work in a non-judgemental way – being aware of own prejudices and not letting them effect the care and support you provide
• following the agreed ways of working to create an environment free from discrimination
• working in an inclusive way
• being confident to challenge or confront discriminatory practice

Assessment Criteria

• 2.1

  Describe ways of working with clients/children which respect their beliefs, culture, values and preferences.

• 2.2

  Outline ways to challenge and report discrimination.

• 2.3

  Identify sources of information on equality and diversity and inclusion.

• 2.4

  Describe ways to use these to support own inclusive practice.