NVQ Level 5 Champion Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

ENHANCED CARE GROUP

SUNNINGDALE

Old policy from my workplace. I work with young people and NOT children (16-18 years old) in a semi independent placement that offers support to develop their life skills.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION POLICY

SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER

This chapter summarises our commitment to provide inclusive and equal services to a diverse range of Children and Young People and young people.

OUTCOME STATEMENT

· Children and young people are supported to have a positive identity of themselves and to receive care which is personalised to meet their needs.

· Each child / young person's background, gender, religion, racial origin, cultural background, linguistic background, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, abilities and interests, are promoted so that all children and young people have the chance to maximise their potential.

CONTENTS

1. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion for Children and Young People

2. Sunningdale - Solo Provision Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy Statement

3. Equalities Procedure

4. Six Principles Areas in promoting Equality and Diversity in Sunningdale – Solo Solo Provision

1. EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Sunningdale - Solo Provision’s values and principles support that all individuals that we provide a service for, and equally provide employment for, have the right to express themselves as social and human beings and to make sustaining relationships. The ethos of all services must take this into account and abide by all related legislation:

· Equal Opportunities Act

· Disability Discrimination Act 1995

· Human Rights Act

· Working Together

· Rehabilitation of Offenders Act

· Race Relations Act 1976

· Sex Discrimination Act

· Mental Capacity Act

· Employment Equality Regulations 2003

· Employment Rights Act 1996

· Equality Act 2006 - Part 2

This policy enforces that each child and young person in receipt of a service from Sunningdale – Solo Provision, will be treated as an individual and their preferences treated with respect in the following areas:

· Gender

· Sexual orientation

· Ethnicity / race / culture

· Religion

· Age

· Ability / disability

Sunningdale - Solo Provision embraces differences as positive and enriching. Most children and young people who live in Sunningdale - Solo Provision have very acute feelings of being outside a group, for various reasons, but particularly because they are living away from their families and outside the mainstream of society. In addition to this many children and young people come originally from families who have found it difficult to fit in and have lived on the margins of society; these experiences of being 'outside' have often been compounded by multiple placement moves and experiences of rejection. Some of these experiences will have racial, ethnic, religious and cultural components. In any case everyone is capable of really understanding the feelings of prejudice, of being judged before somebody has taken the trouble to get to know you, just on the surface information they have. This topic of discussion runs through all the daily meetings and is not merely placed on an agenda every now and then. This appreciation of everyone's differences integrated into the culture goes someway to combating prejudices. Children and young people and young people are encouraged to raise any concerns about discriminatory behaviour individually with a chosen member of staff or in the wider meetings. They will be supported in doing so.

Children and young people are encouraged to gain knowledge and appreciation of different races through educational, sports, drama, musical, visual and culinary arts. They are supported in sharing and exploring these values with one another. The group living experience offers a great opportunity to understand the beliefs and culture of those from a different race and Sunningdale - Solo Provision is proud of these differences and provides opportunities to share and celebrate.

Any abuse, discriminatory behaviour or bullying on the basis of any of these areas will not be tolerated.

2. SUNNINGDALE - SOLO PROVISION EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION POLICY STATEMENT

a) All children and young people are given the opportunity to be cared for and educated. Where possible this is alongside their peers in order to develop their full potential.

b) Children and young people are encouraged and supported to understand their rights and be well-informed about ways of challenging discrimination.

c) The registered manager is expected to identify local community resources that contribute to meeting the needs of individuals - these are highlighted and promoted and where they do not meet required needs alternatives are sought and suitably identified regardless of geographical location, for example hairdressers who specialise in braiding or cutting African Caribbean hair.

d) Children and young people are cared for by staff that are suitably trained in all aspects of equality and diversity including legislation and their responsibilities.

e) Registered manager ensure that assessments of the child / young person and the families specific needs is carried out with an aim to support and develop their full potential.

f) The registered manager is expected to examine ways in which diversity can be valued and activities adapted to meet the individual child / young person's needs including food preparation and menu choices.

g) Staff are expected to acknowledge the importance of maintaining links with the child / young person's home area in meeting the individual's needs.

h) Staff are expected to offer appropriate support to aid inclusion and ensure that the children / young people can fully participate in the home's activities. If necessary seek additional support in order to do this.

i) Additional support is offered to staff and / or children and young people who are finding difficulty in understanding diverse or complex situations.

3. EQUALITIES PROCEDURE

a) Sunningdale - Solo Provision must acknowledge the right of children / young people within law.

b) Sunningdale - Solo Provision must encourage equality and diversity for all children / young people.

c) Sunningdale - Solo Provision must help children and young people to understand and accept the differences of others in society, as appropriate.

In order to understand and reach each child / young person’s potential, each child / young person's individuality and identity in terms of their history, experience, racial origin, ethnicity, religious belief and cultural and linguistic background are explored, recorded and promoted as appropriate.

Sunningdale - Solo Provision respect the dignity and privacy of each child / young person with due regard for these factors, while respecting privacy and individual choice about what to discuss publicly, does encourage a culture where feelings about difference are discussed on a daily basis. These discussions help individual children and young people to explore their individuality and identity.

The approach ensures that the needs and wishes of all children / young people are ascertained, respected and met wherever possible, particularly bearing in mind ethnic, religious and cultural factors. Individual time with key workers and other staff as well as frequent group meetings ensure that staff are able to keep abreast of developing needs and wishes. It is the role of all staff to support all children / young people to recognise and feel pride in their ethnic origin so that they are able to carry a sense of history and of their roots, both of which are important in forming a positive identity. Significant discussions will be recorded as appropriate which inform Placement Plans and allow for the Care Plan to be suitably adjusted, ensuring parents and social workers can be included.

Sunningdale - Solo Provision promotes individuality and inclusion through:

· Encouraging children and young people to develop respect for themselves and for others;

· Delivering services that recognise and build on the strengths of children and young people and young people from all cultures, religions, gender, age, sexual orientation, ability and backgrounds, in ways that meet their needs and help them to achieve their full potential;

· Creating a balanced staff team, reflecting differences in wider society as well as the current children and young people group. Staff are encouraged to raise any concerns about anti-discriminatory practice issues during supervision. These issues will be fed into the training and supervision structures to help develop an anti-racist culture within the home;

· Ensuring that the home is welcoming to all children and young people and others significant in their care and wellbeing; this effort is reflected in the communication around the home, including: posters, information boards, displays and leaflets. In addition to this, resources used to develop work with children and young people and are chosen for their suitability and anti-oppressive nature.

Children and young people are offered opportunities to try out new experiences, which are not restricted by traditional gender or stereotypical options.

4. SIX PRINCIPLES AREAS IN PROMOTING EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY IN SUNNINGDALE – SOLO PROVISION

Gender

Where children / young people live in a single sex group setting, all gender issues will be discussed and supported for this group and a level of knowledge and education will be completed in the issues for the opposite gender.

Staff caring for this gender group will be balanced, wherever possible, in gender, providing positive role models, both males and females.

Where the children / young people live in a mixed gender group, a level of privacy, dignity and respect will be upheld in all private living and communal areas. Access to bedrooms must be carefully managed.

Sexual Orientation

The sexual orientation of all children / young people will be supported and a level of knowledge developed through individual and group education as appropriate.

Where children / young people are exploring different sexual orientations, they should be supported and educated in the safe practice of their preferences within the legal frameworks that protect them.

The nature of exploitative or abusive relationships should be explored. This is particularly important in residential settings where children and young people who may be emotionally damaged may need to be protected from one another.

The appropriate level of professional or therapeutic intervention will be sought for both the individual group and consultation for the staff team where appropriate.

The safeguarding concerns for all children / young people must be held at the highest level, in all decision making processes, to ensure all children and young people remain safe in our care.

Robust risk assessments must be in place for all children / young people, outlining strategies for managing such risks.

Ethnicity / Racial Orientation / Culture

Sunningdale – Solo Provision’s, culture must be one where children and young people of all races are loved and valued equally and no form of racism (or indeed any other kind of prejudice) towards adults or children and young people within or outside the home is acceptable or will be tolerated. It is the role of every staff member to ensure that this culture is engendered and maintained. Racism is not tolerated, and the culture of every community is one in which racial, religious and cultural differences are respected and explored.

All children / young people receiving a service from Sunningdale - Solo Provision will have all their physical, social and emotional needs around their racial or ethnic backgrounds met.

Staff must hold all customs and rituals in high regard and support all children / young people to maintain these wherever possible.

Where children / young people have been moved from their local areas, the staff will ensure that they can maintain links to friends and family, where appropriate and, where not appropriate, that they are educated as to the reasons for this. Staff will also ensure the promotion of activities that the child/young person did prior to their move, to ensure opportunities continue and maintain consistency in the life of the child/young person, where possible.

Staff will also encourage tolerance within the children and young people for other racial groups and the related customs which accompany these.

Racist behaviour is not tolerated, and any instance of racist language or behaviour will be dealt with swiftly and firmly. The perpetrator will be informed that it is unacceptable, will be required to make some reparation where possible and the subject will be discussed with the community at the earliest opportunity. This goes for adults as well as children and young people; it is vital that all staff act as positive role models to children / young people. Racist acts by staff will be considered as a disciplinary matter. Racist language or behaviour can be viewed as another form of bullying.

Religion

All religions from around the world will be held in high regard. The children / young people who choose to follow any religious denomination will be encouraged through attendance at related services. Any structures and rituals, physical or dietary requirements and clothing will be supported. Children and young people will also be supported to attend any related events or social groups within this preference.

Children and young people are encouraged and given the opportunity to practice cultural, religious or ethnic customs and characteristics without interference or prejudice to others. Where religious practices require special clothing or special diet children and young people are properly equipped and advice is sought from either the young person's family or local religious leaders, where necessary. They are enabled to celebrate their own religious festivals and assisted in understanding and acknowledging the religious festivals of others. It is recognised that it is natural that some young people may express doubt about continuing their religious beliefs or practices; whilst having regard for their wishes, it is important that they are helped to recognise and discuss their choices and the implications for their relationships with their family and community.

Where special privacy is needed in order to pray during the course of the day consideration will be given to how best to provide this, whilst also considering the impact on other children and young people and the group as a whole.

Where a religion or religious sect prohibits certain forms of medical treatment or requires disfiguring or disabling operative or mutilating treatment, a balance needs to be reached between a parent's legal rights and responsibilities, the relevant Local Authorities view of the child / young person's best interests and the views of those who know the young person well. Efforts will be made through the social worker to obtain written information with regard to health rules of any particular religion or any medical health rules proposed and, if necessary, legal advice will be sought.

Age

All children / young people will be cared for in line with their age and ability. This supports any decisions and diversity in boundaries, monies, activities that are in line with legislative guidance but flexible in managing the different needs of children / young people at different ages.

Staff will encourage an appropriate level of knowledge and social inclusion, as experienced by all their peers who are not in the looked after system, and ensure that all possible opportunities are offered to children / young people in our services.

All actions and decisions made by staff will be in line with corporate parenting, and in consultation with those with parental responsibility and in consider the level of mental capacity of each child / young person.

Ability / Disability

Sunningdale - Solo Provision believe in providing a welcoming, comfortable and accessible environment that is safe and easy to use for children and young people, parents, relatives, staff, visitors and other users of the premises. We will endeavour to achieve equality of opportunity for all to ensure equal access to its facilities. Where possible, we will avoid physical features that make it difficult for people with a disability and make reasonable adjustments to improve the environment.

All children / young people who have a recognised or diagnosed disability will be supported to have the same opportunities of all children/young people, where possible.

Staff will have training, where necessary in the area of this disability and promote the child / young person’s abilities, activities and social inclusion, whenever and wherever possible.

The safeguarding needs of all children / young people with a disability must be recorded in risk assessments and decisions taken on their behalf or about the level of care and support they require, be made in consultation with the individual, and those with knowledge or parental responsibility.