P5_Explain_How_Working_in_Health_and_Social_Care_Settings_Can_Actively_Promote_Anti-Discriminatory_Practice.

P5) Explain how working in health and social care settings can actively promote anti-discriminatory practice. Principles and Values • To be respected • To be treated as an individual • To be treated in a dignified way • To be treated equally and not discriminated against • To be aloud privacy • To be cared for in a way that meets our needs and takes account of preferences and choices • To be safeguarded and protected from danger and harm • To be allowed access of information about themselves • To be cared for in a way that meets the client’s needs • Given choices and promote independence To be treated as an individual We are all individuals and everyone has their own unique character and personality, which are developed through the different life experiences, cultures and beliefs we follow. It is also through other factors such as social class, age, ethnicity, culture, background and gender. It is important and essential to treat different people as individuals and to try and meet their needs rather than stereotyping people. E.g. all black people are the same. Treating everyone the same ‘regardless’ is failing to respect diversity. To be treated in a dignified way We all want to be treated with dignity and it is a very important part of an individual’s life. Working in the health and social care profession it is important to help people maintain their dignity so they can keep their sense of self-respect and self-worth. All health and social care professionals should be sensitive and aware of the needs of people and service users especially during times when the body and its functions could be exposed. The right to be allowed privacy Privacy is a basic human right, providing the individual is not going to harm themselves or anyone else. All humans have the right to expect that: • The treatment and care they receive will be kept private • No information about them will be passed on to anyone who do not have the right to access it and is kept confidential. • Their dignity will be maintained through any procedures necessary. The right to access information about themselves We know that service users/ patients expect privacy, they also have the right to access and see their health records and any information stored about them. There is an Act called the freedom of information act which became law on 1st January 2005, this allows a service/ patient user to be able to access this information about them in writing. All health care professionals must respond to all written requests within 20 working days of receiving the request. In order to do this health professionals must: • Keep records in order • Be able to find information easily and quickly • Enable colleagues to find information easily and quickly if they are absent To be safe guarded and protected from danger and harm All service users and patients have the right to be protected from any potential harm or danger by their carers. In health and social care all professionals working in hospitals and nursing homes must have a health and safety policy implanted which spell out the necessary rules, actions and regulations and these must be followed to keep service users/ patients and professionals safe and healthy. In many hospitals there will be a ‘locked door’ policy which you will normally find on a maternity ward and in these cases entry to the ward will be managed by an intercom system. Anti-Discriminatory practice • Identify and challenge and discrimination • Promotion of individual rights and preference’s • Provide support consistent with individuals belief’s and culture Identify and challenge discrimination In health and social care, the promotion of anti-discriminatory practice happens at a range of different levels. To actively identify and challenge discrimination we follow government policies and guidelines, offer training and development, raise awareness through events, challenge colleagues when discrimination is evident, challenge inappropriate language and report inappropriate behaviours to line managers or a higher authority. Promotion of individual rights and preference’s To promote an individual’s rights and preferences, a professional will have to help the service user/patient to express their feelings, needs and preferences. Many individuals can and do express their needs and wants and are able to speak for themselves and in some cases there are individuals who needs help and support with this. The service users/ patients who may need support to express their needs and feelings are ill, frail, speak another language or have learning difficulties. In order to support an individual the health and social care worker will have to keep the service user(s) informed, ask questions, listen, don’t make assumptions’, use a method for communicating and ask others for help if necessary. Importance of service users • Provisions of active support to enable patients/service users to communicate their needs/views and preferences The importance of service users in the health and social care setting is valuable and essential for the health care system to work. Health and social care professionals have a duty to supply active support to their service users/ patients, for them to communicate their views and feelings about any treatment or care they receive. There are many services available to service users: • Mental health support (coping strategies) Social workers, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, counsellors, community support workers and psychologists • Support of an advocate • Social support • Physical support • Interpreters • Support of cultures and beliefs It is important for a health and social care professional to give service users support to help and guide them through situation they may face and also to give the service user/ patient the control of the services and empowers them in the decisions being made, so that no one takes over on their behalf.