Equality & diversity

• Equality


  Ensuring a person is treated fairly, given the same opportunities regardless of differences and treated according to their individual needs. Promoting equality means that individuals are not discriminated against due to their differences, such as gender, race, age or disability.
• Diversity


  Recognising and respecting individual differences. Examples include differences in faith, beliefs, race, customs and sexuality. Valuing diversity involves accepting and respecting differences by seeing everyone as a unique individual.
• Aspects of diversity


  • Race
  • Social class
  • Religion
  • Cultural differences
  • Language
  • Sexuality and sexual orientation
  • Age
  • Family structure
  • Marriage and civil partnership
  • Gender and gender reassignment
  • Dress
  • Music
  • Food
• Rights


  What everyone is entitled to, set out by legislation such as the Equality Act 2010
• Rights


  • Choice
  • Confidentiality
  • Protection from harm
  • Equal and fair treatment
  • Consultation
  • Right to life
• Choice


  Gives individuals control over their lives and increases self-esteem because it promotes independence and empowerment
• Confidentiality


  Private information should be shared only with individuals who are directly involved with an individual's care
• Protection from harm


  Care settings and practitioners should have safeguarding procedures and safety measures in place and should follow health and safety legislation
• Equal and fair treatment


  Individuals working in or using health, social care or child care services should be treated within the law and according to their needs
• Consultation


  Individuals using health, social care or child care services should be asked for their opinions and views about their care and treatment; this should inform the care they receive
• Right to life


  An individual's life is protected by human rights law; everyone's right to life should be valued and respected
• Typical mistake is mixing up the rights of 'choice' and 'consultation'. 'Choice' means selecting from options you have been given, while 'consultation' means discussing and exploring possible options.
• Legislation is a collection of laws passed by Parliament which state the rights and entitlements of an individual. Law is upheld through the courts.
• Values of care


  Core principles that underpin the work of those providing health, social care and child care services
• Values of care


  • They are a set of principles and ways of working for care settings and their staff
  • Applying the values of care ensures that individuals receiving health, social care and advisory services have their diversity valued and their rights supported
• Values of care in health and social care services

  • Promoting equality and diversity
  • Promoting individual rights and beliefs
  • Maintaining confidentiality
• Maintaining confidentiality


  Information is shared only with those directly involved with the care and support of the individual on a need-to-know basis. Access to information is restricted to those who have a clear reason to access it when providing care and support for an individual.
• Applying the value of care: Equality


  • Access to care services provided for everyone (wheelchair ramps, hearing loop, information leaflets provided in a range of different formats)
  • Staff using non-discriminatory language; any incidents of discriminatory behaviour appropriately challenged
  • Care settings having and following an equal opportunities policy
• Applying the value of care: Diversity


  • Offering choice, e.g. menus with a range of options catering for all needs (vegetarian, diabetic, gluten-free, etc.)
  • Care home residents being offered a variety of different activities and outings to take part in
• Applying the value of care: Rights


  • Mobility, dietary and communication needs met
  • Ensuring all areas and resources in care settings are accessible to all
  • Female staff available to meet cultural requirements, e.g. female doctor
  • Consulting with an expectant mother about whether she would prefer a home or hospital birth
• Applying the value of care: Beliefs

  • Cultural and religious dietary needs met, e.g. menus with options such as halal and kosher
  • Providing a prayer room
  • Residential settings celebrating a range of different festivals, such as Eid, Chinese New Year, Christmas, Hanukkah
• Values of care in child care services

  • Making the welfare of the child paramount
  • Keeping children safe and maintaining a healthy environment
  • Working in partnership with parents, guardians and families
  • Encouraging children's learning and development
  • Valuing diversity
  • Ensuring equality of opportunity
  • Anti-discriminatory practice
  • Maintaining confidentiality
  • Working with other professionals
• Making the welfare of the child paramount

  • Having a safeguarding policy and protection procedures in place, for example having a child protection officer
  • Using a child-centred approach, children must never be humiliated, abused or smacked
• Keeping children safe and maintaining a healthy environment

  • Having security measures in place to control access
  • Regularly checking and PAT testing all electrical equipment
  • Carrying out risk assessments and regular maintenance checks on equipment, furniture and toys
  • Providing food that meets healthy eating guidelines
• Working in partnership with parents, guardians and families

  • Successful relationships between parents and practitioners to support the best outcomes for the child
  • Daily diaries, informal chats, praise certificates, information sessions to keep parents informed and involved
• Encouraging children's learning and development


  • Providing a range of activities appropriate for the children's ages and abilities
  • Monitoring children's progress to provide support or extension activities
  • Ensuring resources are accessible for all children and providing special equipment or support if needed
• Valuing diversity


  • Celebrating a wide range of festivals
  • Providing food options from a range of cultures to meet dietary needs
• Ensuring equality of opportunity

  • Differentiating tasks and activities to meet children's individual needs
  • Ensuring all areas and activities are accessible by making adaptations
• Anti-discriminatory practice


  • Treating all children fairly, challenging any discriminatory actions or comments
  • Ensuring no one is excluded from activities, making them accessible for all
  • Staff demonstrating inclusive behaviour as role models
• Maintaining confidentiality


  • Sharing private information only on a 'need-to-know' basis
  • Keeping information securely in locked filing cabinets or password-protected electronic records
  • Sharing information openly but sensitively with a group of practitioners involved in the care of a child
• Working with other professionals


  • Typical example: a teacher, a social worker, a GP and the police may be involved in discussions about the best interests of a child in a child protection case
• Suggesting that 'having girls' toys and boys' toys promotes equality' is a typical mistake. To promote equality it is best to provide gender-neutral toys that can be played with by both boys and girls, such as Lego.
• Diversity is about recognising that everyone is different, but equal
• Discrimination is when someone treats another person unfairly because they are different from them
• Support networks


  Range of networks available that can help individuals by providing advice, information and practical support
• Individuals who might need an advocate

  • Young children
  • Individuals with a learning or physical disability
  • People with a condition such as Alzheimer's
  • Individuals who have been assessed as lacking mental capacity or having mental health problems
• Organisations that can provide professional advocacy support

  • SEAP (Support, Empower, Advocate, Promote)
  • Mencap
  • Empower Me
  • British Institute of Learning Disabilities
• Advocate


  Family member or friend who can act as an advocate
• How an advocate can support an individual

  1. Going with an individual to meetings, or attending for them

  2. Helping an individual find and access information

  3. Writing letters on the individual's behalf

  4. Speaking on behalf of the individual at a case conference to express their wishes
• Situations involving advocacy support

  • At a care planning meeting for an 18-year-old individual with learning difficulties who wants to leave home and live in supported housing, a member of the community mental-health team represents the individual in order to ensure their rights are maintained
  • A volunteer from a charity such as MIND or SEAP helps with an application for disability benefits to ensure the individual's rights and entitlements are supported
  • A family friend represents an older person with dementia by speaking about their needs with a hospital social worker when a care plan is being discussed, to ensure the older person's best interests are supported