The care value base is a range of standards for health and social care. It is designed to guide the practice of professionals working in this area. The aim of the standards is to improve clients' quality of life, by ensuring that each person gets the care that is most appropriate for them as an individual.
The care value base offers guidance, and sets standards, in three main areas of health and social care: ➢ Fostering equality and diversity ➢ Fostering people's rights and responsibilities ➢ Maintaining confidentiality of information
Fostering equality and diversity
This means recognising and supporting people's individual needs.
It involves:
➢ Giving everyone the same quality of care and support This does not mean treating everyone in the same way ➢ Respecting and supporting the diversity of people's experiences, lifestyles and backgrounds
As a carer you should ensure that a client's background or circumstances do not affect the quality of care they receive.
This does not mean that treating everyone in the same way. It means treating each person as an individual, taking into account their beliefs, abilities, likes and dislikes. This is known as client-centred care.
There are some terms that you must understand in relation to discrimination.
Discrimination is the result of stereotyping and prejudice.
Stereotyping
If you stereotype someone, you make assumptions about them based on their age, sex, race, nationality or sexuality. For example: ➢ French people love garlic ➢ Women are bad drivers ➢ Men are only interested in one thing
Prejudice
This means liking or disliking someone not because of who they are, but because of how you feel about their lifestyle or background. It is important accept their responsibility to ensure that prejudice doesn't affect the quality of care given to clients
It means providing different care (better or worse) to some people because they are of a