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Not supporting a child or young person to make choices or have their needs met is an injustice and may have devastating effects.
National legislation, regulations, policies and procedures are in place to promote diversity and to prevent discrimination. They are in place to promote everyone’s right to fair and equal treatment, regardless of their differences. For example, the Human Rights Act 1998 covers many different types of discrimination, including some that are not covered by other discrimination laws. Rights under the Act can be used only against a public authority, for example, the police or a local council, and not a private company. However, court decisions on discrimination usually have to take into account what the Human Rights Act says.
To make Britain fairer and strengthen anti-discrimination laws, the Equality Act 2010 provides understandable, practical guidance for employers, service providers and public bodies to ensure that rights to fair treatment are promoted for everyone. The Equality Act 2010 encompasses other acts which all aim to promote fairness and equality and to prevent discrimination.
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Everyone that works in health and social care must ensure that they follow anti discriminatory practice in their role in working with children and young people. Employees have a duty of care to the individuals they care for, acting in their best interests and challenging any unfair practice, upholding their rights in doing so.
A rights-based approach could include religious and cultural choices being respected and an individual having the rights to practice these and be supported to do so.
The Office of the Children’s Commissioner for Wales has published a framework for working with children, grounded in the United National Conventions of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). It is a durable approach that withstands social change. It is about placing the UNCRC at the core of a child’s experience of education and at the core of school planning, teaching, decision-making, policies and practice.
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How do other legislation and national policies underpin a rights-based approach?
Choose one of the following and make notes on the impact you think it has on following a rights-based approach in health and social care.
Welsh Language measure (2011) and Mwy na Geriau – identifies provision in relation to the official status of the Welsh language. Established the office of Welsh Language Commissioner. Commissioner’s aim is to promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language, working towards ensuring that the Welsh language is treated no less favourably than the English language.
Framework for the Welsh Language in Health and Social Care (2013) – outlines the approach to improve services for those who need or choose to receive their care in Welsh.