I have not yet seen this Act in practice.
Disability Discrimination Act 1990
This Act protects disabled people from being discriminated against and lays down rules that must be followed so that you don’t discriminate disabled people.
If a health and social care worker comes across a disabled person (has to work with them, help them) then they must not ‘treat them less favourably than a non disabled person for reasons related to his/her disability without justification,’ 13/2/06. They must do everything within their power to make ‘reasonable adjustments to ensure that a disabled person is not placed at a substantial disadvantage,’ 13/2/06.
While on placement I saw this Act in practice. Some of the residents there have disabilities and mental health issues. These people aren’t looked at by the workers as ‘different,’ at the end of the day they are still human beings like the rest of us and deserve to be treated with respect.
Human Rights Act 1998
This Act aims to ‘Incorporate the European Convention on Human Rights into domestic law and building a culture of rights harbours the potential to improve the protection of women’s rights and interests and to secure an amelioration in the quality of their lives.’ There are sixteen basic human rights that have been incorporated into the UK law e.g. right to life, prohibition of torture etc.
A health and social care worker will need to follow the sixteen human rights so that they don’t take away the rights of any persons in their care and they need to be aware of what they are for knowledge purposes.
In the residential setting where I did my placement I saw this act in place. The residents had protection of property, freedom of expression, right to liberty and security etc.
Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001
This act consists of topics on ‘education in mainstream schools of children with special educational needs, advice and information for parents, resolution of disputes and compliance with orders,’ http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2001/20010010.htm 13/2/06.
This act is mainly for students to ensure that they get the education the education they are intiteld to. This act doesn’t really concern health and social care workers unless they deal with a student who isnt getting a proper education and becomes depressed, feels marginalised and discrminated against.
I havent seen this act in practice.
Sex Discrimination Act 1975
This act was made on ‘26th June 2003’ it was laid before parliament on ‘27th June 2003’ and it was coming into force on ‘19th July 2003,’ 13/2/06.
It protects people from being sexual discriminated against. It is relevant for a health and social care worker because they may have to deal with cases like this where someone has been sexually abused. The health and social care worker needs to know the persons rights and what the Sex Discrimnation Act entails.
I have not yet seen this act in practice.
Race Relations Act 1976
This Act aims to protect people from being disciminated against because of their race.This Act introduces general duties which are, ‘eliminate unlawful discrimination, promote equal oppertunities, and promote good race relations,’ 13/2/06.
A health and social care worker must take this act into account when working with someone that is a different race to them. They must make sure that they don’t discriminate them by for example judging them because of their colour.
I have not yet seen this act in practice.