As part of a society we internalize the group values and norms so, in a way, most of our prejudices are “inherited”.
Equal Opportunities
There are three forms of equality: formal equality, equality of opportunity and equality of outcomes. Their definition is as follows:
Formal Equality is a principle that views everyone in society as equal. We are all born with the same rights to receive equal treatment by administrative, legal and political institutions.
Equality of Opportunity is a principle of democratic society of everyone having an equal chance of achieving their own potential. Under this principle society provides an equal access to education, health treatments and job opportunities. It also attempts to reduce any disadvantage that individuals or group may experience because their gender, sexual orientation, social status, culture etc.
Equality of Outcomes refers to the principle that ensures that the individual obtains an equal share of society’s benefits like for example, equal health treatment, housing, employment etc.
Anti-discriminatory Practice
Anti-discriminatory practice can be described in a simple way as good practice. Is an approach that aims to reduce and challenge discrimination.
Anti-discriminatory practice involves the following elements:
- Challenging discriminatory practice and discrimination within organisations
- Knowledge of our personal prejudice and knowing how to overcome it
- Avoiding cultural stereotypes and assumptions that can devalue people
- Identify individual needs
- Encourage independence
- Beware of prejudice language that can reinforce negative attitudes and stereotypes
A care worker can promote anti-discriminatory practice by:
- Respecting individual’s personal beliefs and supporting individual’s choices
- Encouraging Independence, Privacy, Dignity and Confidentiality
- Ensuring equality of opportunity and access to information
- Help the service user to make decisions
- Have knowledge of cultural and religious differences to help the service user to feel integrate in the care setting
Examples of anti-discriminatory practice:
Meals provided until late for Muslim patients in a hospital ward during Ramadan.
Ensuring the same level of privacy, dignity and respect towards the service user is maintained when working with elderly mentally infirm.
An individual from an ethnic minority visiting a day centre gets a say in the daily activities he would like to take part, when disguising the new term plan.
The Manager in a nursing home introduces a warning system for carers that use discriminatory language.
General Strategies
Some of the general strategies that a Care Home may use to promote Equal Opportunities could be:
- We should have an equal opportunities policy that it would be passing on to the staff through an induction. It should be written in a clear, concise way.
- The policy should be revised regularly to make sure is up to date with the current legislation e.g. Race relation Act 1976, Sex Discrimination Acts 1975 and 1986, etc.
- There should be ongoing training for all the staff and not just an induction when you start work
- All this strategies need to be monitored by the Manager, to make sure that there are taking place. Also need to take further notice if the staff wasn’t following the rules.
- Should have a periodically Feedback from the Service Users were they could express their feeling and further needs.
Specific strategies
Some of the specific strategies that a Care Home may use to promote anti discriminatory practice might be:
- Encourage residents to take decisions and take their own choices of food, clothing, activities that they want to do etc…
- Ensure that dignity and privacy is always maintained, and that both residents and staff are treated in a respectful manner.
- Give the residents the right to choose a carer of their own gender to minimize the trauma when entering care.
- Be aware of religious and cultural differences, and provide the staff with the right information if needed e.g. what is Halal foods? What means being Vegetarian?
- Set up a residents committee, were they could feedback to the Manager any changes they would like to be done.
- Ensure that the language used in the daily practice is always respectful towards everyone within the care setting, avoiding discriminatory language e.g. hen, doll etc.
- Promoting a healthy, relax atmosphere for those living within the care home e.g. quiet room, music room etc.
- Avoid stereotyping and labelling.
- Develop an advocate for the residents, to speak on their behalf.
- The daily activities such as meal and bathing times should be flexible to suit the service user when possible.