Charlotte Barclay
Unit 5 Learning Aim A
Katie Thwaites
A.P1- EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF PROMOTING EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY FOR INDIVIDUALS
WITH DIFFERENT NEEDS
Equality- Ensuring that every individual has an equal opportunity to make the most of their lives and
talents.
Diversity- A large group of people with a range of differences. Valuing diversity is to respect and
value other people's cultures or beliefs. If unwilling to do this, learning from their cultures and
beliefs will be impossible. Other values must also be respected such as; age, gender and disability.
It’s a legal requirement for health and care establishments to respect all individuals, regardless of
their differences.
Discrimination- This is when someone has a prejudice against a person or group of people for
reasons such as; age, gender, race, family structure and social class. This could cause the person or
group of people to be treated differently.
Unfair Discrimination- When a person is treated unfairly or less favourably compared to someone
else, on the basis of personal attributes. For example, a doctor refusing to provide a patient with a
service or refusing to take them on due to their attributes.
Direct Discrimination- When someone is rude or offensive to someone because they’re seen as
different. This type of discrimination is easier to prove as it can be witnessed by others. For example,
a doctor’s surgery not hiring someone because of their disability, despite them having the correct
qualifications.
Indirect Discrimination- This is when there is a policy or practice in place that applies to everyone in
the same way, but has worse effects on some people than others. This form of discrimination is
harder to prove because the employee must prove that the rule is unfair to others with the same
characteristic, and that it is unfair compared to those who don’t have one of the protected
characteristics. For example, a job advert for nurses that says the applicant must have at least 10
years of experience would indirectly discriminate against people based on their age.
Positive Discrimination- When a decision is made in a person’s favour because there is something
different about them. For example, when woman is on maternity leave, they’re protected from
redundancy.
Initiatives aimed at preventing discrimination in care
There are ways that care services can be adapted to meet their patients' individual needs and
prevent discrimination.
Use of Advocacy services- This is when someone can speak on behalf of someone else who can't
speak for themselves. This can be due to illness, disability or lack of confidence. In my case studies,
Aisha could use an advocacy service as she has delusions as result of her dementia. This limits her
capacity to make informed decisions about her personal healthcare, so she would use an advocate
to make informed decisions that are in her best interest.
Use of chaperone- A chaperone is an observer, usually a healthcare professional who is the same sex
as the patient, who is present during certain examinations to ensure the dignity and confidentiality
of the patient is protected. A chaperone acts as a safeguard for both the doctor and patient and can
discourage any improper behaviour. They can also act as a communicator, if there are any language
barriers present. A chaperone can be offered to vulnerable patients or those who have suffered with
, Charlotte Barclay
Unit 5 Learning Aim A
Katie Thwaites
abuse as they may feel more comfortable with someone else in the room with them, depending on
their anxiety levels. Aisha could also use a chaperone when she has intimate appointments for her
incontinence as often those wearing nappies for long periods of time are often at a higher risk of
developing rashes. This would ensure that Aisha’s care is being carried out safely and appropriately.
Access to environment- There can be adaptations used to make access to healthcare easier. For
example, wide corridors and ramps could be put in place to help give wheelchair users more access.
Tremayne could use extra access because of his broken leg, he may need automatic doors and lifts to
make his appointments as easy and accessible as possible.
Specific diet- Ensure there is a choice of food for those with medical conditions, religious
requirements or cultural preferences. For example, giving Aisha a meat free option as she is
Buddhist. Tremayne also has specific food requirements that need to be catered for because he
suffers from a gluten intolerance.
Support- There is resources and information available in a wide range of formats and languages to
cater for the diversity of the modern day. Advocates, translators, carers and interpreters are also
available for further help if the patients feel that they need it. Tremayne could use a carer to help
him understand his dietary requirements, to ensure that he doesn’t carry on his habit of eating
pizzas and store-bought sandwiches, which negatively impact his health.
CASE STUDIES
I have chosen Aisha and Tremayne.
It is important for everyone to have access to and receive the same level of care, suited to their
specific set of needs and person attributes. Aisha is an 82-year-old woman who suffers from vascular
dementia, pneumonia and incontinence. She’s also a practising Buddhist. In Aisha’s case, it is
important that she isn’t discriminated against because of her beliefs, age, gender or medical
conditions, as this could have a detrimental effect on her care. As Aisha is unable to look after
herself, she may require a carer to help her carry out everyday tasks, like cleaning her flat and buying
shopping regularly, as when Aisha’s flat was inspected it was found to be filthy with no food. This is
ensuring that she has equality, as she is able to live her life without as many difficulties. Although the
doctors will need to spend time with Aisha, this isn’t an inequality to them as Aisha has more
complex health conditions that requires a lot of assistance, compared to someone with a broken leg,
so although one is getting more time than the other, they’re both getting suitable levels of care
tailored to their needs. Promoting diversity is also important in this case, as Aisha is a practicing
Buddhist. This means that the doctors treating her may be able to learn more about her culture and
religion to meet her needs, whether that be culturally or linguistically and can lead to cultural
competency and a better understanding of the patient. This also leads to a stronger positive
relationship with Aisha. With patients such as Aisha, support can be put in place to help her access
the correct care. One of these is an advocacy service. Using this service would benefit Aisha, as she
has no family to speak for her and due to her health conditions she may be seen as not able to speak
for herself, so having an advocate would allow her to access healthcare she wouldn’t have been able
to previously. She can then receive support by getting outpatient transport to her appointments, to
ensure she doesn’t miss or forget about them.
Tremayne is a 54-year-old male who suffers from autism and a wheat allergy. He also has equality in
his care as he receives help from carers for his autism, so he is able to meet his personal needs.
Unit 5 Learning Aim A
Katie Thwaites
A.P1- EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF PROMOTING EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY FOR INDIVIDUALS
WITH DIFFERENT NEEDS
Equality- Ensuring that every individual has an equal opportunity to make the most of their lives and
talents.
Diversity- A large group of people with a range of differences. Valuing diversity is to respect and
value other people's cultures or beliefs. If unwilling to do this, learning from their cultures and
beliefs will be impossible. Other values must also be respected such as; age, gender and disability.
It’s a legal requirement for health and care establishments to respect all individuals, regardless of
their differences.
Discrimination- This is when someone has a prejudice against a person or group of people for
reasons such as; age, gender, race, family structure and social class. This could cause the person or
group of people to be treated differently.
Unfair Discrimination- When a person is treated unfairly or less favourably compared to someone
else, on the basis of personal attributes. For example, a doctor refusing to provide a patient with a
service or refusing to take them on due to their attributes.
Direct Discrimination- When someone is rude or offensive to someone because they’re seen as
different. This type of discrimination is easier to prove as it can be witnessed by others. For example,
a doctor’s surgery not hiring someone because of their disability, despite them having the correct
qualifications.
Indirect Discrimination- This is when there is a policy or practice in place that applies to everyone in
the same way, but has worse effects on some people than others. This form of discrimination is
harder to prove because the employee must prove that the rule is unfair to others with the same
characteristic, and that it is unfair compared to those who don’t have one of the protected
characteristics. For example, a job advert for nurses that says the applicant must have at least 10
years of experience would indirectly discriminate against people based on their age.
Positive Discrimination- When a decision is made in a person’s favour because there is something
different about them. For example, when woman is on maternity leave, they’re protected from
redundancy.
Initiatives aimed at preventing discrimination in care
There are ways that care services can be adapted to meet their patients' individual needs and
prevent discrimination.
Use of Advocacy services- This is when someone can speak on behalf of someone else who can't
speak for themselves. This can be due to illness, disability or lack of confidence. In my case studies,
Aisha could use an advocacy service as she has delusions as result of her dementia. This limits her
capacity to make informed decisions about her personal healthcare, so she would use an advocate
to make informed decisions that are in her best interest.
Use of chaperone- A chaperone is an observer, usually a healthcare professional who is the same sex
as the patient, who is present during certain examinations to ensure the dignity and confidentiality
of the patient is protected. A chaperone acts as a safeguard for both the doctor and patient and can
discourage any improper behaviour. They can also act as a communicator, if there are any language
barriers present. A chaperone can be offered to vulnerable patients or those who have suffered with
, Charlotte Barclay
Unit 5 Learning Aim A
Katie Thwaites
abuse as they may feel more comfortable with someone else in the room with them, depending on
their anxiety levels. Aisha could also use a chaperone when she has intimate appointments for her
incontinence as often those wearing nappies for long periods of time are often at a higher risk of
developing rashes. This would ensure that Aisha’s care is being carried out safely and appropriately.
Access to environment- There can be adaptations used to make access to healthcare easier. For
example, wide corridors and ramps could be put in place to help give wheelchair users more access.
Tremayne could use extra access because of his broken leg, he may need automatic doors and lifts to
make his appointments as easy and accessible as possible.
Specific diet- Ensure there is a choice of food for those with medical conditions, religious
requirements or cultural preferences. For example, giving Aisha a meat free option as she is
Buddhist. Tremayne also has specific food requirements that need to be catered for because he
suffers from a gluten intolerance.
Support- There is resources and information available in a wide range of formats and languages to
cater for the diversity of the modern day. Advocates, translators, carers and interpreters are also
available for further help if the patients feel that they need it. Tremayne could use a carer to help
him understand his dietary requirements, to ensure that he doesn’t carry on his habit of eating
pizzas and store-bought sandwiches, which negatively impact his health.
CASE STUDIES
I have chosen Aisha and Tremayne.
It is important for everyone to have access to and receive the same level of care, suited to their
specific set of needs and person attributes. Aisha is an 82-year-old woman who suffers from vascular
dementia, pneumonia and incontinence. She’s also a practising Buddhist. In Aisha’s case, it is
important that she isn’t discriminated against because of her beliefs, age, gender or medical
conditions, as this could have a detrimental effect on her care. As Aisha is unable to look after
herself, she may require a carer to help her carry out everyday tasks, like cleaning her flat and buying
shopping regularly, as when Aisha’s flat was inspected it was found to be filthy with no food. This is
ensuring that she has equality, as she is able to live her life without as many difficulties. Although the
doctors will need to spend time with Aisha, this isn’t an inequality to them as Aisha has more
complex health conditions that requires a lot of assistance, compared to someone with a broken leg,
so although one is getting more time than the other, they’re both getting suitable levels of care
tailored to their needs. Promoting diversity is also important in this case, as Aisha is a practicing
Buddhist. This means that the doctors treating her may be able to learn more about her culture and
religion to meet her needs, whether that be culturally or linguistically and can lead to cultural
competency and a better understanding of the patient. This also leads to a stronger positive
relationship with Aisha. With patients such as Aisha, support can be put in place to help her access
the correct care. One of these is an advocacy service. Using this service would benefit Aisha, as she
has no family to speak for her and due to her health conditions she may be seen as not able to speak
for herself, so having an advocate would allow her to access healthcare she wouldn’t have been able
to previously. She can then receive support by getting outpatient transport to her appointments, to
ensure she doesn’t miss or forget about them.
Tremayne is a 54-year-old male who suffers from autism and a wheat allergy. He also has equality in
his care as he receives help from carers for his autism, so he is able to meet his personal needs.
