Equality, Diversity and Rights in Health and Social Care

This report discusses the concepts of equality, diversity, and rights in health and social care. It explores discriminatory practices and their potential effects on individuals. It also explains different national initiatives that promote anti-discriminatory practice. Additionally, it highlights how anti-discriminatory practice is promoted in health and social care settings.

Unit 2: Equality,
Diversity and Rights in
Health and Social Care
1

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
P1 Concepts and equality, diversity as well as rights within relation to health as well as social
care...............................................................................................................................................3
P2 Describe discrimination practice in health and social care...................................................3
P3: Describe the potential effects of discriminatory practice on the people involved in each of
the case studies above. ................................................................................................................4
P4 Explanation of how different National initiatives promote anti-discriminatory practice. .....6
M2 Influence of one recent national policy initiative promoting anti-discriminatory practice...7
P5 How anti-discriminatory practice is promoted in health and social care................................7
M3 difficulties that may arise when implementing anti-discriminatory practice in health and
social care settings.......................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10
2

INTRODUCTION
Equality and diversity are interrelated with each other. They promote equal and fair access
and delivery of health and social care services. Every individual is having right to get equal care
services (Beresford, 2019). They are having right to live a healthy life.
This report will describe about concept of equality and diversity in health and social care.
Also, it will explain about types of discrimination practice and its potential effects on people
health. Moreover, different national initiatives that promote anti discriminatory practice will be
discussed. Along with it, examples are given that how practice are promoted in health and social
care.
P1 Concepts and equality, diversity as well as rights within relation to health as well as social
care
Covered in ppt
P2 Describe discrimination practice in health and social care
In case study 2 the discrimination practices followed is on the basis of religious
beliefs ,that doctor refuses to take care of the baby as baby is regarding the same sex couples.
They prayer a lot but after she unable to treat their baby as both of them are lesbians. Here
prejudice is unsupported as it involves the negative behaviour such as stereotyped belief that
was followed by doctor in case 2 , bad feeling towards the couples and leads to discriminated
while not treated their baby (McCann.and Coyne, 2019). Generally prejudices are focuses on the
negative behaviour about the society members as there are various types of the prejudices such
as racism ,sexism ,nationalism ,homophobia,classicism and religious . All the three cases came
under the prejudices practices.
There is also one more practice followed within case 3 between the June and September 2010 as
when the female receptionist within a hospital was abused as well as harasses sexually repeatedly
by the male patient. She was abused with the unwanted sexual comments both in telephone and
in person by that male patient. She is also run way from the male patient. He also abused her by
inviting again and again to have sex with him. He was also visualizing the receptionist as naked.
Receptionist complaints many times to her supervisor but no action was taken place. In fact
supervisor sad to the receptionist against her complaint that she can take it as a compliment for
being beautiful lady. Here the abuse discriminatory practice was followed as according to this
3

practice people abuse other people to gain and maintain power to control them, people are afraid
of them and not able to support and talk to someone else. But in case 3, receptionist complaint to
the supervisor but mandatory actions was not taken. Abuse also varies such as physical
abuse,sexual abuse ,financial abuse,emotional and verbal abuse. Sexually abuse is also done
when action takes place forcefully to do something sexually as physical abuse is done by
abusing someone forcefully with the aim of hurting someone (Beresford, 2019) .
In case 1 the old lady treatment cannot be done on the basis of the discrimination by the age that
falls under not following the prejudice practice as on the basis of discrimination by ageism .Her
name is Violet Simpson and earlier receiving treatment for angina form the two years. But she is
having operation regarding big toe and sent for heart scanning as there discovered that she was
facing the issues called Leaky valve not the angina. Thus, on requesting doctors for the treatment
regarding leaky valve. Doctors was not treated her well and also she bothered about her age, but
she mangers to get an appointment and wanted to get the job done, later she took a step back as
the whole experience feels her pushed aside. This case is also falls under the prejudice as here
the old lady faces the discrimination on the basis of her old age so the prejudice is the practice
that cannot be followed here as according to that practice everyone is equal and there is no
discrimination on the basis of age as well.
P3: Describe the potential effects of discriminatory practice on the people involved in each of the
case studies above.
Discrimination leads to the stress, Poor physical health, depression, anxiety and reduced social
interactions. It can negatively affect the employment, relationship, quality of life, employment.
People who experience discrimination faced higher anxiety levels and stress as compare to that
who never faced that one. They are the personalities who became the subject to the stereotypes
that resulted within enjoyment of the social interactions as well as reduced frequency. Some
individuals who faced such type of discrimination also faces the violence with the discrimination
(Best. and Myers, 2019).
Physical consequences- When it is about the physical outcomes that report highlights about the
health problems as acute problems leads to the stomach ulcers, enhanced heartbeat, profuse
sweating and digestive problems.
Gender inequality takes various forms as the most common among them is difference within
earning between women and men. It is sometimes also called sex discrimination that focuses on
4

the receiving unequal treatment that totally based on the gender. Due to the gender inequality it
not going to affects the performance of the firms apart being illegal female employees. Mention
below are some harmful effects regarding gender discrimination as in the case 3 when the
receptionist is sexually abused by the male patient (Townsend. and Morgan, 2017).
Mental health – Discriminating regarding gender victims often experiences harassment that leads
to enhance the depression as well as anxiety. These effects not only affects the victims regarding
harassment ,it focuses on the energy ,morale of the whole team of the firm, in case 3 receptionist
faced gender inequality and resulted to the victims of the mental health.
Stress- Within case 3 when the receptionist faces the enhanced level of the unfair treatment to
their supervisors (also) than it can increase their stress levels that leads to the more chance of the
physical illness. It causes staff members to becomes absent due to the health problems as staff
members like receptionist do not want to work as they can avoid to work at such places (Slade,
Oades. and Jarden. Eds., 2017).
Reduced job satisfaction- When there are issues of gender inequality faced by an
organization ,discriminated employees never reached to the level regarding the high status job
satisfaction within their Job. As high level of the job satisfaction provides the opportunity they
able to learn new skills as well as also leads to the exercise control over the working conditions.
Enhanced turnover- Due to the negative influence on the sexual harassment, one's happiness as
well as health and enhances the chances regarding the turnover of the staff member. Generally
women are more often as compare to the men, leaving the position of high paying executives,
also lack of females seniors and inflexible working hours. Each and every time staff members
leaves the firms as it costs the firm to recruit a new employee. Within this case another
receptionist is hired as well as gender inequality is also not solved and once again the cycle
repeats (McCann.and Coyne, 2019).
Inequality leads to the harassment- When the in equality of the gender exist within a workplace
the firm culture might be less attentive regarding issues of the sexual harassment. Victims
regarding gender inequality are very less who complaint against the harassment they
experienced. It is done due to the because the complaints of the victims are not taking seriously
as in the case 3 , the receptionist complaint is not taken seriously by the supervisor.
5

P4 Explanation of how different National initiatives promote anti-discriminatory practice.
Human right act- It was passed within in the year 1998 as it is considered as an act that can
defend their own rights. This act is also protects oneself from young and old such as within the
case 1 as well as Rich and poor. The people used this act within the UK are not only the
Britishers but also as a citizen, adult or child or any prisoner or a member of the public. Here
human rights are considered to be effective as due to the protection of the every able to raise the
awareness to everyone regarded basic rights as well as also protects the citizen now matter what
the situation is. It provides more opportunities to the UK People. Also, the disadvantages that
provides judges too much as well as offer more persons such kinds of the authorities to the court.
Another good idea regarding human rights act is also considers as when ti comes to the place that
it means about the people who lived within the United kingdom didn't to have the all the way
regarding the France (McCann.and Coyne, 2019)
Sexual discrimination act- This is the act that was introduced in order to protect the persons
from discrimination on the basis of the sex. It can happen within many ways as sexual
discrimination is also judged to be an unwanted attention through the victim regarding the
behavior. There are good things regarding the sexual ac that it can treated both men and women
fairly as well as have the same terms. It is considered that the person can be treated equally when
it comes about the opportunities regarding job as it was considered as the high business as the
job can be considered as the most of the people able to think that the men and women are same
in front of the act. While some bad things regarding about the discrimination act is that
sometimes it becomes hard to prove without the much evidence regarding situation. This act also
not going to change the views of the people as well as their attitudes (Lowe. and Galea, 2017).
European convention and human right act- This act was established within the year 1950,but
came into effective within the year 1953. Each and every article mention in the European
convention regarding human rights as it able to protects the basic human right. If rights of
someone is breached as well as not able to remedy within the human acts within the nation
United Kingdom than these people can take the case within the European court of the human
rights. There are various disadvantages regarding such as within some certain nations that having
problem with the basic human rights (Townsend. and Morgan, 2017)
.
6

M2 Influence of one recent national policy initiative promoting anti-discriminatory practice
Mental health act
This initiative is taken by UK which state that person having mental disorder must be
treated and detained in hospital to protect themselves from community. The act provides them
rights, how they should be treated, discharged, etc. Also, it states what after care health facilities
has to be provided to them (Oram,Khalifeh. and Howard, 2017).
.There is great influence of this policy on staff or social worker dealing with mentally disabled
people. The act binds or forces staff to treat them with respect and dignity. It also explains that
everyone has right to live despite of their mental health or situation. The unethical behaviour of
health care professionals restricts them to treat and respect individuals. the professional might
fail to fulfil patients needs. They start treating all by providing same services. Moreover, the act
protects rights of individual who are can not do things themselves specially mentally disabled
people. However, policy do not allow people to discriminate mentally disabled individuals. In
this way this act restricts people not to discriminate patient and protect their rights. Besides that,
patient suffering from mental issues are adhere to get proper and effective care services.
Furthermore, staff promote well being of people (Cunsolo. and Ellis,2018)
P5 How anti-discriminatory practice is promoted in health and social care.
Ethical problems- There are different kinds of the ethical principles for example such as justice
that means each and everybody must be treated equally and no matters about their gender, age,
sexuality or disability. It is also done by providing active support regular with beliefs,
preferences and culture regarding individual. It is also assuring the culture of the people is being
valued as well as respected. Such as if is Muslim patient and not able to eat meat that is not
considered as the halal which is against culture. Anatomy is the right choice when a person
makes the valued as every health staff members. Every health members must go above as well as
beyond to so their patients as well as non maleficence that can be harm because of the
medications mus be still take care of (Rideout, and Fox , 2018).
It is also done by providing active support regular with beliefs, preferences and culture regarding
individual. It is also assuring the culture of the people is being valued as well as respected. Such
as if is Muslim patient and not able to eat meat that is not considered as the halal which is against
culture. Such as a person regarding within disability must need support as well as extra care
7

when they are involved within the activities for example communicating as well as reading with
their patients.
Mental health support- It is basically for the people who have the issues suffering from the
mental heath as they need counseling throughout the day. So that there is a need for them to
receive the services as sometimes employees can cal various teams to assist them in different
situations such as the role of the social workers as well as mental health nurses psychiatrist as
well as therapist. They are the people who assist them while dressing as well as assist to makes
them allows to make the better personality (Bates, 2017).
M3 difficulties that may arise when implementing anti-discriminatory practice in health and
social care settings
There are many difficulties that arise when implementing anti discriminatory practice. Due to
that, it becomes difficult to promote health care and reduce discrimination in health care. the
difficult can occur at any level and highly impact on health of people. It may arise due to any
reason which are as follows :
The social care worker may not implement or promote anti discriminatory practice. They might
take it easy and lightly. So, they may treat patient as normal just like others without considering
their needs and
 Another is they might not follow belief and ethics of religion which binds them to do so.
Thus, their make perception and judgement on their own belief and value. Therefore, it is
major barrier that can occur in this.
 Lack of funding from local and national government can make it difficult to implement
anti discriminatory practice. For instance- NHS get fixed fund from government. So, in
order to implement practice, there is need for extra resources.
 Lack of training given by health professionals to staff makes it difficult to promote anti
discrimination practice. due to it, they are not aware about care services provided to
patients. Furthermore, lack of participation and involvement from local council and
health professionals result in ineffective decision making and plans.
 The unethical behaviour of health care professionals restricts them to treat and respect
individuals. the professional might fail to fulfil patients needs. They start treating all by
providing same services (Rideout, and Fox , 2018).
8

CONCLUSION
From the above study it had been concluded that various concepts must treat people
equally gender, age, disability, ethnicity Diversity is can produce more jobs. Equality- has equal
opportunities within relation to their gender, belief or religion. Equity entitled to the particular
personal tutors enhanced and stimulated to join Diversity is not considered as similar as oneself
as well as able to leave the difference of own aside. It can also affect that how ideas and life or
also how they can deal with various situations. It also focused on the various acts Sexual
discrimination act judged to be an unwanted attention regarding the sexual ac person can be
treated equally men and women are same European convention and human right act able to
protects the basic human right. Mental health acts explains despite their mental health act
protects rights of individual-act restricts people suffering from mental issues effective care
services. It also focused on the difficulties that arise when implementing anti discriminatory
practice. not follow belief and ethics of religion perception and judgement on their own belief
and value. Lack of funding from local anti discriminatory practice. The unethical behaviour
might fail to fulfil patients providing same services.
9

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Beresford, P., 2019. Public participation in health and social care: exploring the co-production of
knowledge. Frontiers in Sociology, 3, p.41.
Bates, S., 2017. Revenge porn and mental health: A qualitative analysis of the mental health
effects of revenge porn on female survivors. Feminist Criminology, 12(1), pp.22-42.
Best, S. and Myers, J., 2019. Prudence or speed: Health and social care innovation in rural
Wales. Journal of Rural Studies, 70, pp.198-206.
Cunsolo, A. and Ellis, N.R., 2018. Ecological grief as a mental health response to climate
change-related loss. Nature Climate Change, 8(4), p.275.
Lowe, S.R. and Galea, S., 2017. The mental health consequences of mass shootings. Trauma,
Violence, & Abuse, 18(1), pp.62-82.
McCann, E. and Coyne, I., 2019. The experiences of youth who identify as trans* in relation to
health and social care needs: a scoping review. Youth & Society, 51(6), pp.840-864.
Oram, S., Khalifeh, H. and Howard, L.M., 2017. Violence against women and mental health. The
Lancet Psychiatry, 4(2), pp.159-170.
Rideout, V. and Fox, S., 2018. Digital health practices, social media use, and mental well-being
among teens and young adults in the US.
Slade, M., Oades, L. and Jarden, A. eds., 2017. Wellbeing, recovery and mental health.
Cambridge University Press.
Townsend, M.C. and Morgan, K.I., 2017. Psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts of care in
evidence-based practice. FA Davis.
Vahdaninia, M., Simkhada, B., Van Teijlingen, E., Blunt, H. and Mercel-Sanca, A., 2020.
Mental health services designed for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnics (BAME) in the
UK: a scoping review of case studies. Mental Health and Social Inclusion.
10