Equality, Diversity, and inclusivity.

 

The lesson started with different views on equality and what it’s meant to me. It is an equal society as one that ‘protects and promotes equal, real freedom and substantive opportunity to live in the ways people value and would choose, so that everyone can flourish’.

Equality also means protecting people’s characteristic (their disabilities, equal opportunities)

 

According to (Equalities review panel, 2007) an equal society recognises people’s different needs, situation and goals and removes the barriers that limit what people can do and can be’.

Equality means everyone having the same chances to do what they can. Some may need extra help to get the same chance.

Equality is not about treating everyone the same, but making sure people are treated fairly, meeting individual’s needs appropriately and changing the factors that limit individual’s opportunities.

 

We looked at the word ‘diversity’ and what it meant. According to (RCN, 2019) Diversity recognises and celebrates our differences as individuals, but also recognises the common needs that unite us, including the needs for good health and social care service when we need them. Diversity means ensuring that many different types of people contribute to society. According the NMC Code (2018) 1.3 to avoid making assumptions and recognise diversity and individual choice. The NMC standards of proficiency 1.14 provide and promote non-discriminatory, person always centred and sensitive care, reflecting on people’s values and beliefs, diverse backgrounds, cultural characteristics, language requirements, needs and preferences, taking account of any need for adjustments.

 

We looked the word ‘Inclusivity’ and what it meant. The idea of inclusion is based on the belief that all people in society are entitled to share in society’s benefits and resources. It means that people who in the past have been placed at the margins of society should live as part of their communities, benefit from the facilities many of us take for granted and share the services (including health services) that all other people use. (RCN, 2019)’

 

Inclusivity also means involving everyone, to make people feel confident, embracing people’s values, protected characteristics, developing a feeling of belongingness, and to diminish barriers. Barriers can be language barrier, lack of training, difficulty in understanding the system, stereotyping to name but a few.

Inclusion is ‘being included within either a group or society as a whole’. Inclusion links with diversity and equality. It is important to understand someone’s differences so that you can include them and treat them equally and fairly. People can feel excluded if they are not able to join with activities.

 

We looked at how it will affect Healthcare. Healthcare workers should be able to address barriers to healthcare that may disadvantage individuals because of their specific characteristics, as all individuals should experience equal satisfaction of certain common rights and needs.

 

The loss of dignity in care that is experienced among diverse populations indicates that not all healthcare recognises the inherent and equal dignity of all human beings, nor do they value their diversity.

We looked at the Prejudice. If healthcare staff make judgements, because of personal biases, about those they care for, they may fail to see each as a unique human being, resulting in prejudice in care delivery. The word prejudice means ‘to pre-judge’, rather than approaching each person as an individual. Often, prejudice results from stereotyping, which is the assignment of attributes to somebody because they are a member of a particular group.

 

I learnt about the types of discrimination:

• Direct discrimination – where a person is discriminated against because of a protected characteristic or treated less favourably than others.
• Combined discrimination- the combination of two protected characteristics, a person is treated les favourably than those who do not share either of those characteristics.
• Indirect discrimination-when rules, polices, and procedures have a worse impact on people who share a particular characteristic than on people who do not share characteristic.
• Discrimination by association- treating someone worse than someone else because they are associated with a person who has a protected characteristic.

 

 

 

Disability is defined as a society, there are 2 definitions that have being developed for disability. These are known as the medical model of disability and the social model of disability. In sort, the medical model focuses on the disability as the problem, whereas the social model focuses on the environment as the problem.

 

It is important to note that not all disabilities are visible. Most understandings surrounding disability arise from the assumption that a person’s disability will be visible when hundreds of disabilities, such as, mental health problems, sensory impairments, and some mobility impairments have no visible symptoms.

 

I learnt the following:

• Discriminatory behaviour of healthcare workers can diminish the dignity of people accessing healthcare.
• Healthcare workers needs to recognise and value the diversity of those they care for, and endeavour to reduce inequalities in healthcare and experiences.
• Equality, diversity, and human rights are important to everyone working in health and social care, for patients and for service users.
• We all have a role to make sure that services are accessible and that everyone has a positive and inclusive experience.
• In the workplace we also need to think about inclusion and recognise the diversity of those we work with, ensuring that they feel valued and respected.
• Think about what you can do to promote values and behaviours advancing equality, diversity, and human rights in the work that you do.

 

 

 

 

 

KBS ADDRESSED.

 

KNOWLEDGE:

K1: Understand the code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives, and nursing associates (NMC 2018), and how to fulfil all registration requirements.

K2: Understand the demands of professional practice and demonstrate how to recognise signs of vulnerability in themselves or their colleagues and the action required to minimise risks to health.

K3: Understand the demands of professional practice and demonstrate how to recognise signs of vulnerability in themselves or their colleagues and the action required to minimise risks to health.

K4: Understand the principles of research and how research findings are used to inform evidence-based practice.

K5: Understand the meaning of resilience and emotional intelligence, and their influence on an individual’s ability to provide care.

K6: Understand and apply relevant legal, regulatory and governance requirements, policies, and ethical frameworks, including any mandatory reporting duties, to all areas of practice.

K7: Understand the importance of courage and transparency and apply the Duty of Candour

K8: Understand how discriminatory behaviour is exhibited.

K12: Understand the importance of early years and childhood experiences and the possible impact on life choices, mental, physical, and behavioural health, and well-being.

K20: Know how people’s needs for safety, dignity, privacy, comfort, and sleep can be met.

K26: Understand where and how to seek guidance and support from others to ensure that the best interests of those receiving care are upheld.

K30: Understand the principles of health and safety legislation and regulations and maintain safe work and care environments.

K33: Understand when to seek appropriate advice to manage a risk and avoid compromising quality of care and health outcomes.

K34: Know and understand strategies to develop resilience in self and know how to seek support to help deal with uncertain situations.

K36: Understand the roles of the different providers of health and care.

K41: Know the roles, responsibilities, and scope of practice of different members of the nursing and interdisciplinary team, and own role within it.

 

 

 

S1: Act in accordance with the Code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives, and nursing associates (NMC, 2018), and fulfil all registration requirements.

S4: Take responsibility for continuous self-reflection, seeking and responding to support and feedback to develop professional knowledge and skills.

 

 

B1: Treat people with dignity, respecting individual’s diversity, beliefs, culture, needs, values, privacy, and preferences.

B2: Show respect and empathy for those you work with, have the courage to challenge areas of concern and work to evidence based best practice.

B3: Be adaptable, reliable, and consistent, show discretion, resilience, and self-awareness.