11/12/14
Orsolya Czigler
Nvq 2. Tech. cert. H/602/3039 - Principles of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion in Health and Social Care
1. Understand the importance of equality and inclusion
1.1 A. Diversity – In a social care setting, the term means the tolerance of multiple world views. A diverse workforce employs and tolerates individuals of multiple ethnic, religious and lifestyle backgrounds and of various race, belief and culture.
B. Equality – In a social care setting, the term means ‘Equal Opportunities’ which is based on the legal obligation to comply with anti-discrimination legislation. Equality means to treat every single individual with the same respect, without any categorization and prejudice. As a care worker, it is both legal and moral responsibility to protect people from being discriminated.
C. Inclusion - means that every individual is accepted and respected for their individual similarities and differences such enabling each individual to feel valued, important, and as a constructive, useful member of the community. Inclusion refers to providing the opportunity to everyone to avail all available resources, services and facilities.
D. Discrimination – means to treat someone differently and with prejudice because certain and subjective characteristics and habits, such as: disability, age, gender, religion, race, sex, sexual orientation.
Discrimination can mean isolation of an individual, physically and mentally. It can show a form of degradation and disrespectfulness and more.
1.2 In the work setting, discrimination may appear in the following issues: not including residents in activities or social events, such as:
at a mass held by a priest, physiotherapy held on site, physical activities, several entertaining activities, family meetings, tea afternoons, resident and staff meetings directly: by verbal abuse.
All of those happen if we presume that the individual is mentally and/or physically unable to participate in these activities and events. By making these assumptions regarding the individual`s care needs, abilities and by excluding them not giving the options of choice, discrimination occurs.
1.3 Reducing the likelihood of discrimination
At handover – which must be held at every beginning and end of shifts –, we must give details about each residents: about their physical/mental/psychological state, how their day was, what they did and how they behaved with others in a certain environment. We must ensure, that we are all there for them whatever they need, whenever they need us to help and whenever they need us for a certain issue to be solved. We have to take the responsibility to solve problems regarding to one individual personally, as well as within that certain environment. Listening skills, patience and excellent professional skills are the key to avoid any discrimination within a social group.
2. Working in an inclusive way
2.1 List – the key legislations that relates to equality, diversity, inclusion and discrimination are the following:
The Equality Act 2010.
The Human Right Act 1998
These acts have two main purposes:
a. Harmonising discrimination law
b. Strengthening the law to support equality and progression.
Examples of the codes of practice which should be followed in the social care setting:
Age – a member of a particular age group must be treated with the same focus, respect and care.
Disability – an individual has a disability if they have a physical or mental impairment and if this impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day to day activities.
Race – is a group of people to which an individual belongs. This category may refer to skin colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins/attributes.
2.2 Interaction with individuals in an inclusive way
A successful and reliable health care sector requires the promotion of diversity and equality throughout its setup. The fundamental need for this is the ability of the health
