VALUES OF CARE

VALUES OF CARE

1. Promoting equality and diversity

   • This means understanding the basis of discrimination,such as gender,disability,race,age,sexuality or social class
     • no discriminatory behaviour such as prejudice,stereotyping or labelling
       • Understanding and value diversity
   • Equality:enabling individuals to have the same access and opportunities as everyone else regardless of gender,race,ability,age,sexual orientation or religious belief.
   • Diversity : The recognition that everyone is different and has different needs,so appreciating and respecting individual differences such as a persons choice of faith diet ethnicity and customs
   • To promote eaquality in health and social care you can:
     • Use non-discriminatory language-for example,call a service user by their name not ‘dear’ and’love’
     • avoid being patronising;for example,when talking to older or younger people
     • meet individuals needs regarding
       • Mobility: ensure all areas and resources are accessible to all by providing,for example ramps, automatic doors and adjustable height tables where necessary
       • communication needs: provide ‘easy read’ versions of information,hearing loops,and information in different formats such as Braille or languages as appropriate;use sign language
       • Dietary needs: ensure variety in meals offered,for example,to suit halal,kosher,diabetic,gluten-free and vegetarian diets
       • Support cultural needs:provide prayer rooms,transportation to church and opportunities to celebrate service users cultures and religions
   • To promote diversity in health and social care you can
     • Accept and respect individual differences such as faith ,diet ,customs,language
     • provide activities,resources and food that reflects different cultures,beliefs and faiths
     • Celebrate a range of religious and non religious festivals in the care setting to reflect the different faiths and cultural needs of the service users
     • challenge and report any discriminatory behaviour

2. Maintaining confidentiality

   • This means preventing authorised people from accessing personal information and also meeting legal requirements for keeping and using personal information
     • Maintaining confidentiality in health and social care settings
       • Do not gossip about the service users to their friends and family
       • share information with other practitioners only on a ‘need to know basis’ and only those directly involved in caring for the individual
       • Keep patient records secure:look them in a filing cabinet or,if stored electronically keep them password-protected
     • Keep personal details , files and records safe and secure by not leaving them lying around the care setting for unauthorised people to see
     • Use a private office or empty room for meetings with residents or their family to discuss treatment or care
     • Do not discuss patients, residents or other service users in public places
     • Inform service users or circumstances when information cannot be kept confidential for example because the service user is a danger to self or others or is at risk of harm

3. Promoting individuals’ rights and beliefs

   • valuing all individuals
   • acting in the best interests of the service user
   • Freedom from discrimination
   • Treating individuals with respect and dignity
   • Promoting individuals rights and beliefs in health and social care settings
     • Give service users choice for example over diet which clothes to wear,which activities to take part in
     • Maintain privacy-knock on the door before entering a residents room;pull curtains round a hospital bed
     • Provide access to advocate for an adult with learning disabilities
     • For those with religious beliefs,provide a prayer room or transport to a church/mosque
     • Provide access to a translator if the service users first language is not English
     • Always explain any procedures to be carried out as a patient has the right to refuse treatment once they have heard all of the necessary information