Equality_and_Diversity

Equality and Diversity | | Care home name: | _________________________________ | Policy Statement Equality and diversity means that every service user has their individual needs comprehensively addressed. He or she will be treated equally and without discrimination. This is regardless of the individual’s ethnic background, language, culture, faith, gender, age, sexual orientation or any other aspect that could result in their being discriminated against purely because they have such characteristics. Aims of the Policy 1. To ensure that no person applying for a place in the home will be refused admission on discriminatory grounds, eg because of their ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc. When they meet all other admission criteria. 2. To provide inferior or sub standard accommodation and services because of a person’s ethnicity, sexual orientation or any grounds on which discrimination can occur. 3. To work out with each service user what they want and need and how she or he will be provided with the required service. This will be influenced by the individual’s gender, culture, personal choices and other characteristics and it should not be assumed everyone wants the same thing. 4. To encourage service users and staff to relate to one another on the basis of equality and respect for individual differences. 5. To develop an attitude of self awareness amongst the staff and service users to ensure any form of discriminatory behaviour such as offensive or abusive language does not occur and to communicate that it is unacceptable in whatever form it might take and from whichever person. 6. To ensure that service users and staff are continuously aware of the procedures for dealing with complaints and allegations of discriminatory or oppressive language or behaviour. 7. To ensure that all complaints and allegations are addressed properly and in non-discriminatory ways. Commitment to Equality and Diversity This home expresses its commitment to equality and diversity by: 1. respecting service users’ ethnic, cultural and religious practices and making practical provision for them to be observed 2. reassuring its service users that their diverse backgrounds enhance the quality of experience of everyone who lives and works in the home 3. accepting service users as individuals, not as cases or stereotypes 4. involving service users to express their individuality and to follow their preferred life style, also helping them to celebrate events, anniversaries or festivals which are important to them as individuals 5. showing positive leadership and having management and human resources practices that actively demonstrate a commitment to equality and diversity principles 6. developing an ethos throughout the home that reflects these values and principles 7. expecting all the home’s staff to work to equality and diversity principles and policies and to behave at all times in non-discriminatory ways 8. providing, training, supervision and support to enable staff to do this 9. having a code of conduct that makes any form of discriminatory behaviour unacceptable; this is applicable to both staff and service users and is rigorously observed and monitored accordingly. Signed: | _______________________________ | | | Date: | _______________________________ | | | Policy review date: | _______________________________ | Last updated on 03/12/2010