For this assignment objective I have to give definitions of stereotyping and prejudice that can be used with care workers during a training session.

a care setting people might get offended if you stereotype towards them by giving generalizations about something. For example if a care worker is talking to a service user in a care home and the care worker turns around and says that all the care homes don’t smell very nice the service user may get offended as not all care homes smell. This is stereotyping care homes as you assume they all smell if you have been to one that does. This shouldn’t be the case assumptions should not be made and discussed with service users.          With the Mamood family there could be stereotypes that could occur but as a care worker this should be prevented to allow good practice. In the case study Majella is 70 years of age and has very little short-term memory. Care workers may stereotype Majella and assume she has Dementia or Alzheimer’s as they could put into a category and say that all elderly people suffer from it.  This shouldn’t be the case as care workers should not make assumptions and stereotype against. This will lead to discrimination towards Majella which will result in her feeling unwanted and unworthy. As a care worker you need to imply good practice and prevent this from happening all together.        Prejudice usually happens before stereotypes, as this is having an attitude towards the service users, either positive or negative. If you have a negative attitude towards someone it may then lead onto a stereotype. Prejudice is a preconceived opinion which is not based on reason or experience. Care workers should all be fully aware that they shouldn’t hold a preconceived opinion which is not based on reason or experience as this will lead to bad practice. This may make service users feel that you are not that interested in getting to know them. Care workers in any care setting should not pre-judge any of their service users. Care workers should not favour service users better than others they should all be equal and not have different negative or positive attitudes towards each individual service user.        An example of prejudice occurring in the Mamood family may be with Tegla. Tegla works as a physiotherapist at the local hospital. If she was to go to a care setting with her husband about his diabetes care workers their may pre-judge Tegla and may hold an attitude towards her and suggest that she knows a lot of things about care as she works at the local hospital so we may not have to go into as much detail. This should not be the case the care workers should not pre-judge her before they speak. Tegla may not know certain things which could be important. Care workers should always discuss everything in an adult manner in case important things are missed. This should be prevented and should be taken into consideration to provide better care. REFERENCEhttp://www.thefreedictionary.com/prejudiceMoonie.N., Irvine.J., Herne.D., 2005. AS level for health and social care. 1st ed. Oxford: Heinemann Educational Publishers.