Edr P4 Explain How National Initiatives Promote Anti-Discriminatory Practice.

Equality Act 2010 is the law that bands unfair treatment and helps achieve equal opportunities in the work place and wider society.

Individual’s rights also need to be promoted in order for holistic support to be provided by professionals. All adults in a health and social care environment such as a care home have rights to their confidentiality, respect, choice and to have their individuality taken into consideration. They also have the right not to be discriminated against, to receive equal and fair treatment and also to have access to the policies and procedures of the health and social care organisation. They should know when and how to make a complaint should they feel there care need are not being met. Children in care settings also have promotion of rights. These individuals should always have the right to be heard and it remain confidential, to have their wishes considered, be provided with stimulating activities and the right to be safe and secure from harm.

The Equality Act (2010) is designed to address unfair discrimination, harassment and victimisation and advance equality of opportunity and ensure good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. These characteristics are age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation.

The Equality Act 2010 is the law which bans unfair treatment and helps achieve equal opportunities in the workplace and in wider society.

Identify the current legislation and codes of practice relevant to the promotion of equality and valuing of diversity.

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. Just because a person has dementia, they still need to be given a choice and not assume that they cannot make a choice. Not everybody is the same, there are different levels of dementia, so getting to know the service user is vital to challenge discrimination. We also need to make sure that the service user or their families are aware of the complaints procedure. Having policies and procedures are put in place and that staff are up to date on their training.

Describe how code of practice and legislation promote non-discriminatory practice in health and social care.

The Equality Act became law on the 1st of October, 2010, replacing prior legislation such as the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Broadly, it ensures regularity in what employers and employees are required to do to make their workplaces a fair environment, conform and abide with the law, defining the nine protected characteristics, Age, Disability, Gender reassignment, Marriage and civil partnership, Pregnancy and maternity, Race, Religion or belief, Sex, Sexual orientation

Human Rights Act 1998 covers all of the Human Rights and ensures that all individuals have rights on their side and that they can take legal actions against any other individual or any organisation that disrespects their Human Rights; this includes the health and social care settings. This act came into force in England and Wales. This enables children, young people and adults to seek protection of their rights both nationally and internationally through the European court of human rights. It gives people the power to challenge perceived discrimination by public bodies. As an employee within the health and social care sector you would have to be aware of the human rights issues. You would need to know how to report any incidents. This act looks at individual’s rights. It also ensures vulnerable people are being cared for, and have rights to protection and privacy.

The Equality Act (2010) is thought to be one of the most significant acts in promoting anti discriminatory behaviours by both employers and companies along with the rest of society. The Equality Act (2010) covers the Sex discrimination act, race relations act and also the disability discrimination and 6 other acts and regulation all in one and so this make it easier for everyone to understand their responsibilities and shows them how everyone is entitled to dignity and respect and gives individuals, greater protection from discrimination and to protect and also promote a fair and equal society (please see reference below).

The Single biggest piece of legislation that has recently come into force is the equality act 2010, it became law in October 2010 and it replaced a lot of previous legislation that provides a more effective legal framework for preventing discrimination. It replaces;

This act applies for both men and women. It promotes that both men and women should be treated equally. For example, in transport, education, jobs etc. It promotes anti-discriminatory practice by making sure those men and women are treated equally, if this act applies didn’t exist, men and women may be deprived of certain choices. This act includes any discrimination against homosexual marriages or civil partnerships, any discrimination against pregnant women and maternity leave, also about equal pay for both men and women.

Legislation, policies and codes of practice provide clear guidelines as to the as to the rights and responsibilities of care workers and these should be adhered to at all times. Care workers duties are clearly laid out in documents al well as their contract

The Equality Act 2010 is an updated law aimed at an attempt to stop discrimination and to help try encourage equality throughout society. The care environment should benefit from this improved equality act by ensuring certain groups of people within the healthcare who receive a worse service compared to the rest of the community receive equal opportunities. Under the Equality Act 2010, individuals are formally protected against the harm of discrimination on the grounds of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief, and sex and sexual orientation.

Under the sex discrimination act 1976, any staff of service users has recourse and protection from any discrimination. Its policy is to protect the staff and service user from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation under The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003. It ensures that men and women are same as per as pay is concern. Under Equal Pay Act 1970, organization’s policy is to make sure that man and women are treated equally and not discriminated in terms of their pay.