SCH141. Lifestyle — Social, Cultural and Religious Belief or Faith in Care Homes
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Lifestyle — Social, Cultural and Religious Belief or Faith in Care Homes (Scotland) Policy
Introduction
This policy sets out the values, principles and procedures underpinning {{org_field_name}}’s approach to respecting and enabling the lifestyle choices of people receiving care in line with the national health and care standards, My Support, My Life (2017), particularly under Standard 1: “I experience high-quality care and support that is right for me”, which begins with 1.1: “I am accepted and valued whatever my needs, ability, gender, age, faith, mental health status, race, background or sexual orientation.”
{{org_field_name}} recognises that its care workers must be aware of and informed about the beliefs and cultures of the people using the service to help them to practise as they would wish and to maintain contact with co-religionists. Festivals and holy days must be respected and people receiving a service must be helped by their workers to celebrate them if they choose to do so. Familiar routines must be similarly recognised as important to many people.
Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
{{org_field_name}} expresses its commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion by:
- respecting each person’s ethnic, cultural and religious practices
- reassuring people living in the home that respect for diversity enhances the quality of experience of the service
- accepting people living in the home as individuals, not as cases or stereotypes
- involving people living in the home to express their individuality and to follow their preferred lifestyle, also helping them to celebrate events, anniversaries or festivals which are important to them as individuals
- showing positive leadership and having management and human resources practices that actively demonstrate a commitment to equality and diversity principles
- developing an ethos throughout {{org_field_name}} that reflects these values and principles
- expecting all staff to work to equality and diversity principles and policies and to behave at all times in non-discriminatory ways
- providing, training, supervision and support to enable staff to do this from induction training onwards
- following the Code of Practice for Social Service Workers, which makes any form of discriminatory behaviour unacceptable; this is applicable to both staff and people living in {{org_field_name}} and is rigorously observed and monitored accordingly
- carrying out regular assessments of the impact of our approach to equality, diversity and inclusion on the service’s policies, on people living in the home and on the service provision generally.
Policy Statement
Our service is committed to the following.
- No one applying o live in {{org_field_name}} will be refused on discriminatory grounds, eg because of their ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, etc when they meet all other receipt of service criteria.
- To ensure that inferior or substandard services are not provided because of a person’s ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or any grounds on which discrimination can occur.
- We will work out with each person what they want and need and how they will be provided with the required service; this will be influenced by their gender, culture, personal choices and other characteristics and it should not be assumed everyone wants the same thing.
- To encourage staff and people using the service to relate to one another on the basis of equality and respect for individual differences.
- To foster an attitude of self-awareness among the staff and people using the service to ensure any form of discriminatory behaviour such as offensive or abusive language does not occur and to communicate that it is unacceptable in whatever form it might take and from whichever person.
- To make people living in {{org_field_name}} and staff continuously aware of the procedures for dealing with complaints and allegations of discriminatory or oppressive language or behaviour.
- To address all complaints made by people living in {{org_field_name}} about lack of respect for their cultural, social and religious beliefs properly and in non-discriminatory ways.
Implementing the Policy
Equality, diversity and inclusion means that every person living in {{org_field_name}} has their individual needs comprehensively addressed. They will be treated equally and without discrimination. This is regardless of the individual’s ethnic background, language, culture, faith, gender, transgender, age, sexual orientation or any other aspect that could result in their being discriminated against purely because they have such characteristics.
{{org_field_name}} celebrates individual difference. It avoids treating people unequally. It recognises that treating people unequally can result in their losing dignity, respect, self-esteem and self-worth and ability to make choices.
The service does not assume that equality, diversity and inclusion principles and policies apply only to its staff. People living in the home must also respect the ethnicity, culture, religion, gender and any disabilities of staff and not discriminate against them on any of these grounds when expressing their views and preferences.
The service makes clear that it finds unacceptable any form of racist and similar discriminatory behaviour from any source.
The service also builds these policies into its external contractual relationships.
The home makes sure that all staff are properly informed about the social, cultural and religious beliefs or faiths of each person living in the home. This information will be written into every personal plan.
Every person living in the home is enabled and supported to develop and maintain meaningful connections and relationships, to practise their beliefs and to keep in touch with any faith community to which they belong.
{{org_field_name}} supports people using the service to adhere to the customs and practices of their holy days and festivals, birthdays and personal anniversaries in line with their choices and preferences.
{{org_field_name}} will organise social events, entertainment and activities that reflect people’s cultural interests and backgrounds so that they can join in the home’s social life in an inclusive way.
Training
All staff are trained to follow the home’s policies on respecting the social, cultural and religious beliefs or faiths of the people living in the home and to promote equality, diversity and social inclusion principles.
Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}
Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}
Next Review Date: {{next_review_date}}
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