Equality –
Treating everyone equally regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, colour, disability etc. There are laws in place to ensure that this happens. An example of this in health and social care is a doctor treating patients differently because of the colour of their skin.
Diversity –
Understanding, recognizing and accepting that everybody is unique and has individual differences, whether it is gender, ethnicity, age, colour etc. All individuals shoed be respected and valued. An example of this is on a hospital food menu not having a choice of food to cater for everybody’s dietary needs as some people may vegetarian, allergic or have religious reasons.
Rights –
Everybody has rights and this is what they are legally entitled to. An example of this is that patients are entitled to privacy; if a nurse or doctor is telling them information they should be taken to a private room where people can’t overhear the conversation and they still have dignity.
Opportunity –
Everybody either working in or using health and social care services should have the same opportunities available to them. Opportunities could range from job opportunities to medical. An example of this is woman not being given the same opportunity as a man for a job because of her gender.
Difference –
People must be respected by their individual differences. This applies to employees within the health and social care profession as well as the people using the service. An example of this is a disabled person being discriminated against because they are different.
Overt discrimination –
This is when discrimination is clear. An example of this is if a male employee is paid more than a female employee because of their gender even though they are doing the same job.
Covert discrimination –
This is the opposite of overt when discrimination is hidden and not obvious. An