Equality and Inclusion in Health and Social Care

Promote equality and inclusion in health, social care or childrens and young peoples settings.

• Explain what is meant by: Diversity

The differences between individuals and groups in society arising from gender, ethnic origins, social, cultural or religious back ground, familtnstructure, disabilities, sexuality and appearance. Equality- is ensuring individuals or groups of individuals are treated fairly and equally and no less favourably, specific to their needs, including areas of race, gender, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation and age.

Inclusion is about equal opportunities for all, whatever their age, gender, ethnicity, attainment and background.

• Describe the potiential effects of discrimination

Discrimination against children makes them have a low-self esteem and they find life very lonely. They may resentful towards those discriminating them and perform poorly when it comes to activities set for them. They may become defensive and are reluctant to ask for help for fear of ridicule or embarrassment.

• Explain how inclusive practise promotes equality and supports diversity

Promoting inclusion is to help children have positive attitudes towards differences and so reduce the likelihood thst they will develop prejudiced views, you can practise this in ways such as helping children see differnces in a positive way- as interesting and enriching to all our lives and develop positive and respectful attitudes towards people from all walks of life.

• Explain how legislation and code of practice relating to eqaulity, diversity and discrimination apply to your own work role

The Equality Act 2010 brings together all previous acts relating to equality and discrimination. The Act applies to all organisations that provide a service to the public. The Act protects all individuals and groups from discrimination. Early years setting must be aware of these laws and have in place a policy regarding equality of opportunities and for supporting children with learning difficulties and disabilities Providers must also have regard to the SEN code of practice.

The EYFS also states that providers have a responsibility to enssure positive attitudes to diversity and difference. Within my setting we have a Equality and Diversity policy and a SEN and disability policy these policies must be followed by staff and integrated in to our working practice. The policies bring together all the main points from the various acts and the requirements of the EYFS.

• Describe how to challange discrimination in a way that promotes change

You should never ignore or excuse such discriminatory behaviour any more than you would ignore or excuse someone if they inflicted physical pain on someone else. It must be addressed because if you do not respond and just let the incident pass you are contributing to the person feeling that it is acceptable to speak or behave that way. To promote change you need to change people’s attitude toward other races, sexuality, religion etc.

We try to educate our children in my setting about different culture, disabilities by doing things like having time so that children can share their experiences with each other, and encourage them to think of other people’s feelings and share different options with each other and also give them the opportunity to think about what it is like foe other people and ask them to think about themselves in other people shoes.