Using different types of communication like written and computerized communication are both good ways of promoting equality and diversity. For example with comprised communication it is much safer and easier to save patients record on the computer rather than having to do a paper work saves time for both the service user and provider as it also helps to keep private and confidential between the doctor and the patient.
In oral communication while promoting equality and diversity successfully. There are some key points that care workers should consider. Such as, while they are communicating with the people in care home they could speak at an appropriate pace so that the elderly people may understand it better and both can communicate well. Another example of how service providers can promote equality and diversity using communication by ensuring that opportunities are open to everyone regardless of ability.
It is important for everyone to fully understand the term equality and diversity because without it there would not be simple things such as females being able to have a high status career. This relates to the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, as this law make sure that both men and women are treated equally. In the late years, when the law was not set up, companies could discriminate women by not employing them or giving promotions to men instead of women because employers simply thought that women would get pregnant soon therefore the company would need to pay for the women maternity leave and also they need to recruit another new employee to fill in her job position. However, sex discrimination can also occur to men for example a nursery may choose to employ a female member of staff over a male member just because of his sex.
The Race Relation act 1976 is also another form of act that promotes equality and diversity within our society. The act is specifically designed to cover the ground of a person’s race, colour, nationality, ethnicity and national origin. The act is important as it covers employment, education, goods, facilities and services as well as housing. The act makes sure that people cannot be discriminated against due to their race and as a result they can attend same school, colleges, and universities, have the right to live in the same areas as other people and be able to have full access to leisure facilities such as going to the gym, eating in the same café etc.
There are quite a lot of laws that deal with equality and diversity. But those two are the most important law that needs to be taken into consideration in the care setting.
Maintaining confidentiality
Confidentiality means that keeping information that has been given by a specific person, secure and secret from other people. Maintaining confidentiality is very important aspect of building trust between two or more people. It is vital within care setting that confidentiality is felt between the patients and staff as this helps to build strong relationship and trust within both the staff and the patients. If a person is able to trust the person that they are talking to then they are more likely to discuss more things with them as respecting the services user’s thoughts and beliefs.
The main important thing is that teachers, doctors, managers should keep the information provided by the patients, students and employees kept private for different reasons. For example to maintain a person’s dignity as some of the information that they may be sharing with their doctor may be embarrassing to the patients.
Also computerized communication can be used as a form of trust as passwords can be used to ensure the security of documents files and personal information. This is good because only the person needing to know the information can have the password. By doing this you are building trust and reliability between both the users as it helps create strong and more efficient relationships. Moreover, there should be a change in password frequently so that it is much secure as hackers won’t be able to know.
There are laws and acts that need to be measured and followed when ensuring confidentiality. For instance, the Data Protection act 1998 where the information between the service user and the provider is kept private and handled properly if it has to be discussed further. The Freedom of act 2000 which allows the service users the right to freely look at their own documents/ records from the public authority, this includes such as medical reports etc.
When confidentiality can be broken
Despite, of the above acts and laws sometimes confidentiality needs to be broken, but patient’s confidentiality will still not be broken without good reason. This only happens when the service user is exposing the information to others or was to put themselves or others at risk or had committed a serious crime. Other limits to patient confidentiality are;
- If a young person reveals that they have been abused or currently are abusing a minor (physically, sexually or by neglect)
- If the agency staff member is ordered by a law court to give evidence in relation to a young person
- If a young person gives a clear indication of their intent to such as to die by suicide or cause self-harm or it they were to injure another person
In this case the information would need to be passed on to someone who is professional to deals with those serious problems. They include such as social worker as they deal more with children and their needs and understanding, police, courts and medical profession.
Promoting individual rights and beliefs
Everyone has their own rights and beliefs that people should take in consideration and also has the right to have and express their views and beliefs. In care settings care workers need to treat everyone equally and it’s their duty to care in full consideration with respect to the patients. Care workers have to make sure that they are aware that every individual has different beliefs but still has the right to care. Therefore, if the care worker mistreats the patients just because they have different opinions or disagree with the beliefs of what the patients thinks, this may result a lack of care. The human rights act 1998ensures that everybody within a care setting is treated in the correct manner and that if they are not then they have the right to make a complaint.
The human rights act enables users to seek any form of care no matter who they are and that they can’t be treated any different to anyone else because of who they are such as race, culture, ethnicity, age, gender, etc. For instance if there was a Christian nurse but the nurse ignored to check up the Muslim patients then it could class as different culture believes.
Religion is very important when individual rights and beliefs are considered as there are many different religion and theories that people beliefs. In many people lives religion is a big part of their life and therefore it should be carefully thought before discussing and causing offence to someone’s religion can cause a major problems.
Different people have their own rights and choices over decisions that are made regarding their lives which they think it’s important to them but not to other people. For instance, a person needs some blood from a blood donor in or to save his/her life. But the patients refuse it for some kind of reason, maybe because of religious reasons or their own personal beliefs. However everybody has got the right to be informed about the information regarding to medical needs such as treatment etc.
In order to make sure that the service users is getting the full care out a health care service, it is important that all care workers need to understand the policies and guidelines as not to offend or upset services users making sure that people’s individual rights and beliefs are taken into consideration and that equality and diversity and confidentiality are maintained. So that both the services users and services providers are comfortable and can trust each other.