Working In Health and Social Care Flashcards
How do H+SC workers promote anti-discriminatory practice?
By implementing codes of practice and policies that identify and challenge discrimination
What is discrimination?
When someone is treated unfairly or unequally because of a characteristic they have
Someone may experience prejudice that has been put into practice
Name the two types of discrimination
Direct discrimination
Indirect discrimination
What is direct discrimination?
Treating someone less favourably because of their characteristics
Examples include harassment and victimisation
What is indirect discrimination?
When a practice, policy or rule is in place but has a worse effect on some people than others.
(e.g. people in wheelchairs can’t access a building because there is only steps and no ramp)
Examples of anti-discriminatory practice in H+SC
- accessible signage
- leaflets in various languages
- easier access to buildings
- anti-bullying policies
- longer appointments for people with learning disabilities
- advocates for people
What is ‘positive action’?
Doing something voluntarily to help people with protected characteristics
When may positive action take place?
- if people are at a disadvantage
- if people have particular needs
- if people are under-represented in a type of work or activity
The 9 protected characteristics are…
- age
- sexual orientation
- race
- disability
- marriage or civil partnership
- religion and beliefs
- gender
- pregnancy and maternity
- gender reassignment
The Equality Act 2010 protects people from discrimination by:
- employers
- health and care providers
- educational settings
- transport services (e.g. buses, taxis and trains)
- public bodies (e.g. government departments and local authorities)
Promoting anti-discriminatory practice:
Hearing impairments
- provide hearing loops in GP surgeries
- use BSL to communicate
Promoting anti-discriminatory practice:
asylum seeker
- provide translation services if needed
- recognise cultural preferences
Promoting anti-discriminatory practice:
Physical disabilities
- provide accessible rooms and buildings
- support participation in sport and exercise in schools
How professionals challenge discrimination?
Doctors: check patient’s preferred language and methods of treatment
Nurses: ask whether patient prefers male or female nurse
Social worker: advise on actions to take to address discrimination they experience
Occupational therapists: help people live independently - ensure appropriate kitchen equipment for different cultures
Professionals must…
- treat each person with respect
- respond appropriately to individual needs
What is empowerment?
- giving individuals information and support so they can make choices and decisions about their lives - to live independently
How to empower service users:
- promote users’ dignity
- give individualised care
- deal with conflict in appropriate ways
- promote independence
- put service users central to care
What are rights?
- entitlements that everyone should receive
- protected by UK laws (Human Rights Act 1998)
Key rights everyone is entitled to:
- dignity
- independence
- privacy
- safety and security
- equality
- free from discrimination
Putting dignity into practice:
respecting a persons dignity by:
- providing privacy for patients using the bathroom in hospital
Putting independence into practice:
- promote autonomy (independence) through freedom, choice and support
(e. g. allowing an older person to choose where they wish to live - own home or residential home)
(e. g. supporting a person with learning disabilities to live independently)
Helping people express needs and preferences:
- provide active support to enable choice consistent with individual’s beliefs, cultures and preferences
(e. g. supporting those who need help to express their needs and preferences)
Putting equality into practice:
- enduring equal opportunities and access to services
e. g. fair allocation of budgets for provision of different services
Possible risks in care:
- abuse by other service users/staff
- inadequate supervision of staff when moving patients
- lack of illness prevention measures
- inadequate control of harmful substances
- lack of properly maintained first-aid facilities
Managing risks in care:
- risk assessments
- staff training to manage risks
- appropriately qualified staff
- regular checks of facilities
- procedures for reporting and recording accidents, incidents and complaints
- clear codes of practice which are familiar to all staff, including safeguarding and control of harmful substances
Mitigating risks in H+SC settings:
Risk: specialist equipment - require sufficient staff trained to use equipment properly
Risk : adequate supervision and support- ensure drinks aren’t too hot, use stable cups, supervise if necessary
Risk: infection from accidents and spillages at meal times - support for meal times, suitable utensils and protection
Stages of reporting an incident:
Detect it —> record it —> report to relevant person —> classify incident according to severity + type —> prioritise issued for appropriate actions —> propose preventative action —> implement changes to working practices —> monitor effectiveness of changes in preventing future incidents
Barriers to incident reporting:
- incident seen as unimportant
- care staff have other duties
- staff may not know about reporting it
- pressure to not report accidents
Problems with evidence in reports
- inconsistent witness statements
- lack of detail in statements
- poor recall of events
- written evidences conflicts with other evidence (e.g. CCTV)
Complaints procedures…
- all care settings must have them in place
- all care settings must enable service users to access and use them
- they are checked when care providers are inspected
- they can lead to service improvements
Services users have the right for…
- companies to be dealt with within appropriate time frames
- complaints to be taken seriously
- full and thorough investigations of concerns raised
What does the Data Protection Act 1998 say?
- data must be used fairly and lawfully
- data must be kept secure
- data must be kept for no longer than necessary
- data is accurate
Data H+SC employers can keep about employees
- DOB
- address
- name
- details of disabilities
- tax code and NI number
- emergency contacts
How is confidentiality ensured?
- applying requirements of data protection act 1998
- securely storing medical and personal info
- following appropriate procedures where disclosure is legally required
- maintaining confidentiality to safeguard service users
What is confidentiality in H+SC?
restricting access to info about service users to individuals involved in their care, unless permission is given
Professional bodies:
General medical council - regulate doctors
Nursing and midwifery council - regulate nurses and midwives
- health and care professions council - regulate all other H+SC professionals
H+SC workers must…
- follow codes of professional conduct
- apply current codes of practice
- ensure revaluation procedures are followed
- follow procedures for raising concerns (whistleblowing)