Unit 5: Meeting individual care and support needs guidance
LO: Define equality, diversity and rights. Explain the importance of each. Explain
how to promote anti-discrimination.
Learning aim A
P1
Equality is a term that describes everyone has an equal opportunity regardless of
a disability, gender, race, sexuality, age. Valuing diversity on the other hand,
means to respecting everyone’s unique qualities and attributes. Discrimination is
also referred to as a stereotypical thought where you treat someone differently
based on prejudged views/ stereotypical ideas. For example: Discrimination
against disability, gender, race, sexuality, age etc.
Equality means that everyone has an equal opportunity regardless of a disability,
gender, race, sexuality, age etc. The Equality Act 2010 is set out to protect
users against discrimination, harassment, or victimization. There are nine
protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and
civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and
sexual orientation. If people in the workplace, education or care settings do not
comply with legislations and codes of practice then this can be reported under
being discriminated. This legislation is in place to ensure that people such as
employees, care users and others are aware of their mutual responsibilities in
society and to protect the welfare of all. An example of showing equality in a
workplace would be a race situation, where the user would not be judged by
their race, they are included in all opportunities that the workplace has to
offer, all staff are treated fairly and equally and that all discrimination issues
are raised and dealt with appropriately. This helps people to feel that their
beliefs and abilities are considered, and they will have an equal opportunity to
everyone else.
Diversity means accepting and respecting differences. The UK is a religious and
culturally diverse society which has an impact in health and social care’s
delivery. Therefore, it is important to recognise and respect people’s
differences and beliefs. Both doctors and patients come from different
backgrounds and so it is the care services duty to respect and protect an
individual and their chosen beliefs and religions. This will benefit us as we can
lean more things. Cultures can and have given us a lot of health care remedies
such as herbal teas to help with aches and pains. However, some religious
groups such as Jehovah’s Witness’ believe that certain medical interventions
should not be allowed and so they will reject them. An example of this would
be that they do not believe in blood transfusions and so even if someone is in
hospital dependent on a blood transfusion then it must not be accepted.
Diversity would come into place here as it would be the doctors right to
respect that decision and to not give a blood transfusion even if it would save a
life.
, Discrimination is when prejudice attitudes affect the way people act towards
other people. People can be discriminated based on, social class, religion or
belief, race, sexual orientation, age, gender. There are 4 types of discrimination;
unfair discrimination: This is when a person is treated differently and unfairly
than someone else. An example of this would be a nurse refusing to help you or
take you up as a patient because of your race. Direct Discrimination: This is when
another person bullies you for being different to them. An example of this would
be being called nasty names because you are gay. Indirect discrimination: This is
when discrimination is not easy to spot and is harder to prove. An example of this
could occur in a job where people are friendly but joke about their gender.
Positive discrimination: An Example of this would to be a school only accepting
people from a certain ethnicity group as this will make them look more diverse
and it will show equality.
If someone is affected by discrimination, then it can have a lot of impact on him
or her. For example, a boy who attends school get bullied on a day-to-day basis
because he is transgender. This could cause him to have a loss of self-esteem,
self-image, and self-worth, they may view themselves as not being “good
enough” and feel as though they must try and fit in. this can cause a lot of stress
to an individual which can cause mental illnesses triggered by stress factors
which has become of being bullied at school.
The boy may feel threatened and in constant fear of others and their views of him
and so he may drop out of school due to this. It may come to the point where he is
too scared to go out and may lock himself into his room. He may be too reluctant
to go out and seek support and treatment from his GP. This will lead to a loss of
confidence and cause depression and anxiety. This may lead to self-harming or
even suicide/ death from illnesses.
If someone is affected by discrimination, then it can have a lot on their emotional
well-being. In Nusrat’s case study it shows that she is not being discriminated as
the volunteers at the community centre has involved Nusrat to make decisions
about her own care. Because she has learning disabilities, they have also included
her mother for better opportunities. However, if they did not involve her in her
care then that could show discrimination as they wouldn’t be treating her equally
as someone who had no disability at all. If they did show discrimination, then this
would have affected her self-esteem and self-worth and she would lose a sense of
independence. She would feel like she would not be worthy enough to make her
own decisions which could lead to anxiety as she would shy herself from
everyone trying to help her as she may think that they won’t include her in
anything. It may get to the point where she cannot seek help and talk about her
problems because of her anxiety which could ultimately lead to depression.
Nusrat is also given Makaton sheets to help her communicate and get involved
with conversations and she can still learn. This will boost her self-esteem and
self-concept as she will not feel isolated and unworthy of learning. It will also
decrease anxiety and depression as she may have thought having a disability
would stop her opportunities in learning, however with the Makaton sheets they
would help her learn and she will start to feel equal. The Makaton sheets will also
boost her confidence as it will give her a positive self-image.
