Social Care Theory for Practice Anti-discriminatory Practice

Discrimination Discrimination is when an individual or group of people are treated differently Usually prejudiced attitude leads to discrimination in some form People can be discriminated on the grounds on the following:

Race Colour Nationality Sexual Orientation Age Offending Behaviour Disability

Examples Crude racists remarks Subtle differences in assessments Expectation Provision of service Treatment

Direct Discrimination Direct discrimination is when someone treats people differently, either more favourably or less favourably, than others in the same or similar circumstances

Indirect Discrimination Indirect discrimination is more complex and may not be obvious at first Usually there are conditions that, although applied to all groups of people, will in effect favour the majority whilst considerably disfavouring a particular group

Unconscious Discrimination Being unaware that it ’ s happening Failing to be aware of different customs and religions Can be direct or indirect

Institutional Discrimination Takes place within organisations Affects individuals and groups May be direct, indirect or unconscious

Anti-discriminatory Practice Anti-discriminatory practice is behaviour demonstrated by people towards others that is conducive to equal or fair treatment Anti-discriminatory practice takes account of how we behave in terms of:

Use of language Advocating equality as we practice it ourselves Providing information on awareness about anti-discrimination Enabling the people we care for to exercise their rights and choices

Anti-discriminatory practice includes taking the opportunity to challenge discrimination. This may also mean challenging ourselves

Promoting Anti- discriminatory Practice: Striving for change Questioning decision makers Keeping up to date with current information on anti-discriminatory practice Applying this knowledge within the workplace

Information regarding what services are available, should be accessible to everyone How assessments and care plans are carried out should be accessible to everyone

Information should be available in appropriate form eg Braille, tapes, different languages Interpreters and signers should be available at the assessment stage and/or throughout the delivery of services

Values Underpinning Anti-discriminatory Practice Valuing diversity Promoting equality Ethnically and culturally sensitive practice Choice and self determination

How Values Influence the Care Provided Leads to service users feeling respected and valued Promotes good working relationships with service users Leads to improved self esteem and self confidence Helps service users fulfill their potential

Examples in Practice Girls encouraged to succeed as well as boys Young people in care encouraged to expect as much from life as those not in care Enable all service users to view themselves as valued and important and able to achieve

Care environments made accessible to all Service users enabled to access community resources Service users experiencing the same consequences to their actions as others in society

Challenging discrimination-pubs; cafes; talking to worker, not service user; rude comments from public; inappropriate behaviour from other staff; lobbying government on/access/transport/employment issues