Explaining discriminatory practice in health, social care or child care environments

Question 1

As well as understanding what counts as best practice, people working in health, social care and childcare environments also need to recognise when poor, discriminatory practices are being shown and what actions to take when it does. This can include:

Answer 1

• stereotyping, labelling, prejudice
• inadequate care
• abuse and neglect
• breach of health and safety
• being patronising

Question 2

What are examples of stereotyping, labelling and prejudice?

Answer 2

• Stereotyping: for example, a GP becoming inpatient with her overweight patients - she thinks all overweight people are lazy.
• Labelling: Jumping to conclusions about a child and calling them badly behaved when they have ADHD.
• Prejudice: A care assistant refusing to bathe a homosexual man or woman

Question 3

What are examples of inadequate care?

Answer 3

• Not administering medication on time to patients.
• Rough handling while bathing or dressing an individual, causing bruising.
• Leaving an elderly resident in the same incontinence pads all day
• Not consulting parents before placing a child into a support group in school (for children who are less able)

Question 4

What are examples of abuse and neglect?

Answer 4

• Calling an individual slow, laughing at them and making derogatory comments because they have a learning difficulty.
• Hitting an elderly patient who has dementia
• Not providing regular food and fluids to a patient in a nursing home
• A carer taking money from a service user’s purse when making a home visit

Question 5

What are examples of breach of health and safety?

Answer 5

• Forgetting to lock the door of the drugs cabinet meaning patients can take medication they are not supposed to
• Leaving used syringes lying around rather than placing them in the sharps bin so a patient can injure themself
• Moving a patient from their bed to a chair without assistance
• Lack of hygiene when preparing food in a hospital kitchen
• Failing to carry out a risk assessment before a day trip

Question 6

What are examples of being patronising?

Answer 6

• Forgetting to lock the door of the drugs cabinet meaning patients can take medication they are not supposed to
• Leaving used syringes lying around rather than placing them in the sharps bin so a patient can injure themself
• Moving a patient from their bed to a chair without assistance
• Lack of hygiene when preparing food in a hospital kitchen
• Failing to carry out a risk assessment before a day trip