equality & diversity by kristi long

Educational Solutions for Workforce Development

Equality and DiversityDr Kristi Long

NHS Education for Scotland

Educational Solutions for Workforce Development

Outline

• Key concepts in equality and diversity• What does equality and diversity mean for

health and social care?• What is my role in delivering equality and

diversity?• Where can I find out more?

Educational Solutions for Workforce Development

Some key concepts

Equality is about creating a fairer society where everyone can participate and have the opportunity to fulfil their full potential and no one is unfairly disadvantaged.

Diversity is about valuing peoples’ differences and addressing their different needs and situations.

Educational Solutions for Workforce Development

Equality law: ‘protected characteristics’

•Age•Disability•Gender reassignment•Marriage & civil partnership•Pregnancy & maternity

•Race (incl. ethnic and national origin)•Religion or belief•Sex (gender)•Sexual orientation

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Other drivers of inequality

• Socioeconomic inequality• Geography

– Areas of multiple social disadvantage– Remote and rural areas

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Discrimination

Legally defined as less favourable or unfavourable treatment because of a protected characteristic.

Can be:• Direct discrimination• Indirect discrimination• Discrimination arising from disability• Institutional discrimination

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Harassment

In the Equality Act 2010, harassment is:

Unwanted behaviour related to a protected characteristic which has the purpose or effect of:

• Violating a person’s dignity or• Creating an intimidating, hostile, humiliating,

offensive or degrading environment for that person

Educational Solutions for Workforce Development

So what?

Educational Solutions for Workforce Development

Inequality: some examples

Access to services• Are there barriers which make it less likely

that I can access a service?Experience of services or quality of service• Is the service I receive as good as the service

others receive? Does it take account of my needs and preferences?

Outcomes• What is the result?

Educational Solutions for Workforce Development

Person-centredness

Educational Solutions for Workforce Development

Developing and delivering services

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Engaging with service users

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This is also about you

Fair treatment: protection from discrimination and harassment (from service users, staff, management, etc), treated with dignity and respect;

Consultation and engagement -- policies, equality priorities, education;

Reasonable adjustments, flexible working (where relevant)

Educational Solutions for Workforce Development

A role for all of us

It is not your duty to complete the work;

neither are you free to desist from it.

Pirkei Avot 11.21