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Promote equality and inclusion in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings
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Assignment task – SHC 33 - Promote equality and inclusion in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings
Unit purpose and aim This unit is aimed at those who work in health or social care settings or with children or young people in a wide range of settings. The unit introduces the concepts of equality, diversity and inclusion which are fundamental to such roles.
Author note Although I finished the SHC23 unit, I decided to answer to all the SHC33 questions, according to my senior care assistant position. I answered the questions of this unit as a senior care assistant working in a residential care home for individuals living with early dementia.
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Task 1 Understand the importance of diversity, equality and inclusion 1.1 Explain what is meant by: Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion 1.2 Describe the potential effects of discrimination (Effects may include effects on the individual, families or friends of the individual, those who inflict discrimination, and wider society) 1.3 Explain how inclusive practice promotes equality and supports diversity
Task 2 Be able to work in an inclusive way 2.1 Explain how legislation and codes of practice relating to equality, diversity and discrimination apply to own work role 2.2 Show interaction with individuals that respects their beliefs, culture, values and preferences
Task 3 Be able to promote diversity, equality and inclusion 3.1 Demonstrate actions that model inclusive practice 3.2 Demonstrate how to support others to promote equality and rights 3.3 Describe how to challenge discrimination in a way that promotes change
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Assignment task – SHC33 Answers Task 1 Understand the importance of diversity, equality and inclusion 1.1 Explain what is meant by: Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion
What is diversity? Diversity means; being different, diverse, or variety; means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, nationality, culture, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, ability, or other ideologies.
Diversity in my health and social care workplace for individuals living with early dementia means that, there are male residents and female residents of different ages from different background regarding their lives and experiences. They all have their own personal preferences regarding their likes and dislikes when eating and drinking, regarding their participation when involved in activities. My residents are all different in the way they behave when socialising with the other residents or with staff. Also their beliefs, mental health condition and physical health are different. All these difference is what make diversity.
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What is equality? Equality is ensuring individuals or groups of individuals are treated fairly and equally and no less favourably, specific to their needs, including areas of race, gender, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation and age. Promoting equality should remove discrimination in all of the aforementioned areas. Equality ensures everyone, regardless of their difference and ability has their right to be treated with respect and to be provided the same opportunities to access services as everyone else. When explaining equality to consider the following; individual rights; giving and respecting choices; tailored services that better meet the diverse and individual needs. Negative discriminatory behaviours typically seen in care practices are the following; direct discrimination and indirect discrimination; harassment and bullying; victimisation; power and control; inappropriate language; oppression and lack of equality of opportunity; excluding people and groups from activities; blanket care approach, not personalised, all treated the same.
Equality in my health and social care workplace for individuals living with early dementia means that, to care for all the residents in a fair and equal way, regarding their care needs, without making difference in regards of the colour of the skins or religions.
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What is inclusion? Inclusion is a term used by people with disabilities and other disability rights advocates for the idea that all people should freely, openly and without pity accommodate any person with a disability without restrictions or limitations of any kind. Inclusion means promoting equality of access, inclusion and participation for individuals regardless of their differences. It’s a requirement for all social care workers to adopt an approach that ensures service users are placed at the centre of the planning and decision making process as far as possible, e.g. by using the person centred approach and by promoting active participation. Care workers must respect the values, beliefs and preferences of service users ensuring the same life opportunities are provided regardless of their diverse needs and differences.
Inclusion in my health and social care workplace for individuals living with early dementia means that, to provide cares in a centred person approach, putting the resident in the centre of the care planning process, according to the resident's mental capacity.
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What is the social model of disability? The social model of disability says that disability is caused and made worse by societies’ attitudes and how it is organised, rather than by a person’s own impairment or difference. It looks at ways of removing barriers that restrict life choices for disabled individuals. When barriers are removed, disabled individuals can become more independent and equal in society, with real choices and control over their own lives. Disabled individuals themselves developed the social model of disability because the traditional model did not explain their personal experience of disability or help to develop more inclusive ways of living. Traditional model of disability shows problems born of assumptions, stereotypes and labels e.g. special schools, charity, sympathy, special transports, doctors, medical treatment, educational psychologists, social workers, rehabilitation centres, occupational therapists, speech therapists, physiotherapists, sheltered workshops. The social model of disability shows barriers born of ignorance, fear, stigma, lack of education and knowledge, inflexible employment, underestimated/devalued, inaccessible information, inaccessible transport, inaccessible facilities, lack of employment, inflexible employment, sheltered workshops, segregated services, medicalised, overprotected/hidden in homes by families, lack of social network.
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1.2 Describe the potential effects of discrimination (Effects may include effects on the individual, families or friends of the individual, those who inflict discrimination, and wider society)
Potential effects of discrimination for an individual in a health and social care environment can lead to physical and emotional impacts for the individual by being excluded and rejected by others for reasons that the individual have no control of, which can cause extreme worry for the individual. It results in anxiety, sadness, depression and a feeling of guilt and emptiness. These often translate into depression, loss of interest, eating disorders and stress-related ailments.
Potential effects of discrimination for the families or friends of the individual in a health and social care environment can lead the families or friends of the individual to feel worried about the care provided to the individual experiencing discrimination or bullying within the social care environment. This can conduct the families or friends of the individual to write serious complaints regarding care provided, regarding the wellbeing of the individual and wellbeing of the families or friends. Complaints in relation of feeling stress to go to visit the individual, complaints about lost or damaged of possessions of the individual. The way of an individual feels when close to staffs is a good clue of how the individual is treated inside the social care environment. Staff duty to remember that behind a vulnerable individual, are often a loving family and friends that care as much as the staffs about the global wellbeing of the individual. By maintaining good relationship with the families, friends and literally every person that are involved in the resident's care planning process, will lead to better understanding and better cares for the individual.
Potential effects of discrimination for those who inflict discrimination in a health and social care environment will lead to abuse of the individuals or staff. This will seriously impact on the reputation of the social care environment. Failure to report any forms of abuses in a social care environment will lead to bad cares without regards to the individual’s rights. Social care environments that fail to take strong action on discrimination tend to be poor in care provided. This is because people feel disgruntled and loose interest in working in such environments. There is a drop in morale, trust and confidence on the part of the employees. People with talents and exceptional skills and abilities are not attracted to such social care environments because they do not want to be discriminated against.
Potential effects of discrimination for the wider society when people face racial discrimination may regroup with some vengeance in mind against other groups. This can fuel conflicts and social discords. In fact many conflicts and wars have been started in this way.
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What is discrimination? The definition of discrimination is the act of prejudice against a person because they have a certain set of characteristics. Discrimination is to treat a person less favourably than another person is, or would be, treated in the same or similar circumstances. Discrimination is treating someone differently because of some ascribed difference. Usually negative. Discrimination is to treat people unequally, some favoured more than others - is often an expression of prejudice. Discrimination can take many forms but in many countries around the world there are laws prohibiting any form of discrimination. Discrimination can be on the grounds of sex and sexual orientation, race, disability, mental health, age, ethnic background, religion, gender and gender reassignment, learning ability, life style and outlook. This is not acceptable. Discrimination can be based on the assumptions people make about other e.g. people with mental health issues are dangerous. Discrimination is also linked with; stereotyping (grouping a person or group under one usually negative characteristic or feature); labelling (a general classifying name, term or category applied to a person); oppression (the experience of being treated as an inferior person or group, having their basic human rights and needs ignored and being treated in an unjust way); prejudice (a preconceived opinion, like or dislike often based upon stereotypical beliefs and fears). Discrimination can be direct or indirect. Direct discrimination happens when a person treats another less favourably than someone else because of one of the following reasons. Gender, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity leave, sexual orientation, disability, race and colour of the skin, religion or belief, and age. For example, it would now be regarded as direct discrimination if a driving job was only open to male applicants. Indirect discrimination is where certain conditions or rules apply that disadvantage a particular person or group of people more than another. For example, saying that applicants for a job must be clean shaven puts members of some religious groups at a disadvantage. Indirect discrimination is unlawful, whether or not it is intended. It is only allowed if it is necessary for the way a service works, and there is no other way of achieving it. For example, the condition that applicants must be male might be justified if the vacancy was intended to create a chance balance a staff group where there are male receivers of care.
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What is the cycle of oppression? The theory of cycles of oppression has been well documented in both sociological and psychological studies, and such cycles exist in many institutions and care settings. It is important that those with some supervisory and or managerial roles and responsibilities are aware of the impact of this cycle on individuals. The most common forms of discrimination are racial remarks, gender slurs, being called insulting names and being the butt of hurtful jokes. Studies have found that discrimination, racism and harassment may have significant mental and physical health consequences such as frustration, stress, anxiety, depression, possible nervous breakdown, or high blood pressure that can cause heart attacks and for some suicidal tendencies. Effects of discrimination physically and emotionally are the following; Depression; Anger; Loss of self-esteem; Isolation; Feeling stressed or unable to cope; Suicidal tendencies. The long term effects could include; Loss of motivation; Reduced individual rights and withdrawal; Restricted opportunities; Limited access to services; Mental illness caused by the stress of being treated unfairly; Physical illness related to stress e.g. heart, ulcers.
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1.3 Explain how inclusive practice promotes equality and supports diversity
What is inclusive practice? Inclusive practice is an approach to teaching that recognises the diversity of students, enabling all students to access course content, fully participate in learning activities and demonstrate their knowledge and strengths at assessment. Inclusive practice promotes equality and supports diversity in a health and social care environment when staff is doing an activity such as a musical activity that include all individuals from all backgrounds, races, ethnicities, and ages. For that reason it supports diversity as it includes all the individuals. As all individual is included, everyone is on an equal level, with no judgement passed on race, age, sex, or sexual orientation. For that reason it promotes equality. Duty of staff to take into consideration that, identity, self-image and self-esteem are terms that belong to centred person approach. Identity, self-image and self-esteem are personal and belong to the individual only. This is part of diversity; everyone is different, working in a health and social care setting, duty of staff to celebrate this difference by working in a centred person approach that put in individual at the heart on the care planning process.
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Task 2 Be able to work in an inclusive way 2.1 Explain how legislation and codes of practice relating to equality, diversity and discrimination apply to own work role
In my health and social care workplace for individuals living with early dementia, we have relevant legislation and codes of practice in relation of equality, diversity and discrimination, which are, The General Social Care Council (GSCC) Codes of practice for social care workers that underpin the 8 Core Care Values, The Equality Act 2010, and The Human Rights Act 1998. Those legislation and codes of practice relating to equality, diversity and discrimination apply to my own work role because they determine in which ways we interact with the residents and other staff in a health and social care settings. The Equality Act 2010 legally protects the residents and staff from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society. It brings together all previous acts relating to equality and discrimination. The Human Rights Act 1998 is a UK law passed in 1998. It means that you can defend your rights in the UK courts and public organisations including the Government, the Police and local councils must treat everyone equally, fair, dignity and respect. It is applicable to individuals living with dementia. Human rights don't stop with dementia. Other legislations and laws that help inform own work role are the following; Policies and Procedures of workplace; The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and 2005; The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 1976 and 2000; The Mental Capacity Act 2005; National Service Frameworks (NSFs) are policies set by the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom to define standards of care for major medical issues such as cancer, coronary heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, kidney disease, long-term conditions, mental health, old age, and stroke care - The two main roles of the National Service Frameworks (NSFs) are to set clear quality requirements for care based on the best available evidence of what treatments and services work most effectively for patients, and to offer strategies and support to help organisations achieve these; The Care Act 2014 (It makes it clear what kind of care people should expect through a set of criteria that states when local authorities will have to provide support to people. Central to the Care Act is the concept of wellbeing; council’s duty to consider the physical, mental and emotional, wellbeing of the individual needing care. A Person Centred Approach sets the structure of the Care Act; care workers must involve the individuals in deciding what they need, how they can best be cared for and what they want to achieve.) To resume, legislation and codes of practice relating to equality, diversity and discrimination apply to own work role caring for individuals living with early dementia means that, I treat my residents the way I would like to be treated, without any forms of discrimination in regards of the colour of the skins or religions and beliefs. Treating all residents on the same level, and working in a centred person approach, putting the resident in the centre of the care planning process, according to the resident's mental capacity, taking into consideration the resident's background regarding their lives and experiences. Respecting the resident likes and dislikes when eating and drinking. An individual living with dementia is first a human with the same rights as everyone else.
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What are the 8 Core Care Values? The 8 Core Care Values are an agreed set of principles that are believed to be the foundation of all good care practice and provide care workers with an agreed set of principles / standards by which care workers benchmark their practice which ensures they conduct themselves in a way that embraces these principles. The Core Care Values were intended to guide and inform the approach and practice required of all care workers. The 8 Core Care Values not only apply to the relationships developed with the individuals within a care home, families and friends but to the working relationships with colleagues and other key people from other organisations supporting the individuals within a care home needing the help of care services. The 8 Core Care Values provides a set of principles that help to develop a better understanding of what constitutes good care practice which supports the continued care, safety and wellbeing of the individuals within a care home. These values / principles are now embedded in the General Social Care Council (GSCC) Codes of practice for social care workers, and must be adhered to at by all social care workers. The 8 Core Care Values are the following; Respect; Individuality; Rights; Privacy; Independence; Choice; Dignity; Partnership. Individuals have a right to; Be respected; Be treated as individuals; Be treated in a dignified way; To privacy; Be treated fairly and not discriminated against; Be protected from harm and danger; Be cared for in a way that meets their needs and takes account of individual choice, wishes and preferences; Access information about themselves; Communicate using their preferred methods of communication and language.
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2.2 Show interaction with individuals that respects their beliefs, culture, values and preferences
Example of interaction with individuals that respects their beliefs: One of my residents wants to go to Church every Sunday as he used to do before. I ask a member of staff to escort him and I make sure a cab is booked on Sunday to allows the resident to go to his Church.
Example of interaction with individuals that respects their culture: One of my residents is from India and is a pure vegetarian. I make sure the care assistants are aware about her culture and will not serve to her any meat or fish.
Example of interaction with individuals that respects their values and preferences: One of my residents prefers having his cup of tea in his personal cup bought by his family. When tea time comes, I make sure my staffs are aware about it and that my resident gets his tea in his personal cup of tea, as this is very important for him.
What is the Maslow's hierarchy of needs? Psychologist Abraham Harold Maslow (1908-1970) was an American psychologist who was best known for creating Maslow's hierarchy of needs, a theory of psychological health predicated on fulfilling innate human needs in priority, culminating in self-actualization. Maslow used the terms "physiological", "safety", "love and belonging", "esteem", and "self-actualization" to describe the pattern that human motivations generally move through.
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Task 3 Be able to promote diversity, equality and inclusion 3.1 Demonstrate actions that model inclusive practice
Actions that model inclusive practice in a health and social care settings for individuals living with early dementia are; when the activity people are providing cinema activity or musical activity with all residents included; when the activity people are providing activity in relation with Christmas decorations e.g. individuals according to their mental capacity are making small Christmas boxes that will be placed under the Christmas tree in the lounge. All the individuals are feeling valued and that make them aware of the period of the year. Everybody is happy and feel to be part of a great team.
3.2 Demonstrate how to support others to promote equality and rights
To support others to promote equality and rights in a health and social care setting for individuals living with early dementia means to value diversity by treating everybody with dignity, equality, and respect. This will be possible by working in an inclusive practice way, by including everybody when providing musical activity for example. Information that support diversity, equality and inclusion are through; supervision; team meeting; training; through sources e.g. skills for care, skills for health, equality and human rights commission, nursing and midwifery council, care standards commission, voluntary and third sector organisations, internet and government websites, books, professional journals, inter-agency working and specialist organisations.
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3.3 Describe how to challenge discrimination in a way that promotes change
To challenge discrimination in a way that promotes change in a health and social care settings for individuals living with early dementia are all about communication and working procedures and protocols. In my work place, discrimination will not be tolerated and must be reported immediately to the line manager. When discrimination occurs, my attitude is to talk with the person who is discriminating against. I try to find a way that the person will understand how wrong is it to discriminate against by finding example in relation of the person's background. For example a born British resident swear to a born African resident regarding the colour of the skin. Knowing that the born British resident was a surgeon before, I will explain that even if the colour of the skin is different, the colour of the bones and blood are for everybody the same, and that the colour of the skin don't matters. That will promote change by showing to the born British resident that swearing to a born African resident regarding the colour of the skin in wrong and is not the way to be discredited against when everybody is equal in flesh. Discrimination can be challenged by; The use of supervision and training to develop knowledge and understanding; Reporting discriminatory practice; The disciplinary procedures used as a tool to address, help and promote improved attitudes; The complaints procedure enables service users to exercise their right to complain; Using, reviewing and developing policies and procedures at work; The use of advocates who can independently assess, evaluate practices and support those service users who have difficulty in exercising their rights to complain.
What is the circle of influence? Circle of influence encompasses how the family, neighbourhood/community, agencies and organizations, and the wider society, feed the character, development, behaviour of an individual starting from the period of a child. Factors affecting values, beliefs and effectiveness are the following; Physical, social and emotional stages of development; Life stages e.g. infancy, childhood, puberty, adulthood, old age; Environment; The effects of relationships; Education; Religious beliefs and values; Cultural background; Employment; Socioeconomic circumstances. To discriminate is the act of making a choice; choices are often affected and influenced by personal experiences, values and beliefs.
