HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE UNIT 5 EXAMPLE ANSWER P1
P1 EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF PROMOTING EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH
DIFFERENT NEEDS
HAVE YOU INCLUDED? COMPLETE?
Define what equality, diversity is in relation to health and social care
Explain why it is important for H&SC practitioners to promote equality and diversity
Explain initiatives and how practitioners promote equality, diversity when caring for your
3 individuals. Include the following that relate to your 3 service users:
Allowing service users to choose their own treatments,
treating them as an individual,
taking into account the services users abilities,
respect and value their beliefs and religious beliefs
value and respect their differences e.g. age, disabilities, gender, religion and culture
Explain why it is important for all 3 service users to have equality and diversity
considered when having their different/individual needs met
Equality is all about ensuring that individuals have access to the equal opportunities, regardless of their
abilities, their background, or their lifestyle. Each person should be catered to as individuals and not
stereotyped, such as presuming that everyone with learning difficulties cannot communicate verbally.
Diversity within health and social care means appreciating the differences between the service users and
treating people’s values, beliefs, cultures, and lifestyles with respect, such as not comparing people’s care
needs and providing personalised care. Without diversity and equality, discrimination can occur.
Discrimination involves purposely treating a person or group differently because of a previous assumption
made about them, usually based on their differences, such as their religion, sexual orientation, or ethnicity.
It is crucial to promote equality and diversity in health and social care settings since it leads to both a fair and
more accessible service, which can be provided for everyone. Legislations, like the Equality Act 2010, ensure
that the service user’s rights are being upheld and they are being treated with respect and dignity. This act
was made specifically to prevent discrimination as “it brings together over 116 separate pieces of legislation
into one single act and protects the rights of individuals from unfair treatment to promote a fair and more
equal society.” Therefore, a service user should not be refused treatment because of their religion, instead
they should be catered to, and for example Muslim women will only be treated by female doctors as it is
against their beliefs to touch a male who is not part of their family. This means health and social settings
should guarantee there is a female doctor present.
Equality is promoted throughout health and social care since it ensures that everyone is treated with dignity
and respect, which can mean improved treatment for all service users as well as service professionals.
Equality and diversity should be an essential part of how professionals deliver an effective service because it
also helps to unify the workforce making sure everyone works together to produce great care. Health and
social care professionals understand that different individuals have different care needs, and by catering to
them diversity is emphasised, and discrimination is prevented. For example, Nusrat, Brenda and Martin all
BTEC HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE UNIT 5 MEETING INDIVIDUAL CARE AND SUPPORT NEEDS