Equality act (2010)

When was the equality act brought into effect?

2010

What is the purpose of the equality act?

it legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society
individuals should have equal treatment in empolyment, in access to private and public sector services
equality in health and social care
allowing positive action to ensure diversity in the workplace

What does the equality act make it unlawful to?

engage in prohibited conducts relating to a protected characteristic in the context of certain activities

What are the protected characteristics under the equality act?

age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation

A person has a disability if they…

have a physical or mental impairment, and the impairment has a substantial and long-term (12months+) adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities
past protection applies to a person who has (previously) has a disability which lasted over 12 months as well as to a person who has one now

How are progressive conditions classed under the equality act?

can be classed as disabled, automatically meet definition with HIV, cancer or multiple sclerosis

What are the common barriers people with disabilities experience withi healthcare?

attitudinal barriers, physical barriers, communication barriers, financial barriers

What are things that are exculded from being a disability?

addiction to or dependancy on, alcohol, nictotine, or any other substance (unless medically prescribed), hayfever (unless agrevates another condition), tendancy to set fires, steal or physically or sexually abuse others, exhibitionism, voyeurism

What are the requirements for protection around gender re-assignment?

you must prepose to change your gender or have done so, it does not matter whether the individual has had treatment or surgery or if they later change their mind

What does race include?

a person’s colour, nationality, and ethenic or national origins, covers ethenic or racial groups - groups of people that share a particular protected characteristic

What counts under the protected characteristic religion or belief?

any religion and a lack of religion - any religion of sufficent seriousness which has a clear structure and belief system, denominations or sects within a religion, philosophical beliefs and a lack of them

What is prohibited conduct under the equality act?

direct discrimination, combined discrimination, indirect discrimination, failure to make resonable adjustments, harassment, victimisation due to discrimination by association or complaining about discrimination

Who does the equality act protect people from?

employers, buisnesses and organisations that provide goods or services, health and care providers, someone you rent or buy a property from, education providers, transport services, public bodies

What is the socioeconomic duty of public sector bodies?

adopt transparent and effective measures to address inequalities rising from differences in occupation, education, place of residence, or social class

What is the equality duty of public sector bodies?

eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, foster good relations between different people when carrying out their activities

How can you avoid discrimination?

educate yourself and others
encorage individuals to respect each other’s differences
challange and/or respond quickly to any evidence or complaints of inappropriate behavoir
develop a workplace environment and/or policy that prohibits discrimination
undergo training and keep it up to date
understand workforce/ institutional policy on discrimination and follow agreed ways of working
delivery of person centred care - treat all individuals as unique

When is there a duty to make resonable adjustments?

if the individual is placed at a substantial disadvantage because of their disability compared with non-disabled people or people who don’t share their disability

What do pharmacy services need to consider that they might need to provide resonable adjustments for?

premises, dispensing process and supply of medicines, experience of pharmacy services, help required for the indivdual to use their medicines correctly, they should never be charged for these adjustments

What does the Accessible Information Standard state?

that all organisations that provide NHS care and/or publicly-funded adult social care must make health and social care information accessable

What year did the accessable information standard come into effect?

2016

What should pharmacies do to follow the accessible information standard?

a specific consistant approch to identifing, recording, flagging, sharing and meeting the information and communication support needs of patients, service users, carers and parents with a diability impairment or sensory loss

What are the 5 basic steps to ensure that you are providing information in an accessable way? Explain each one

ask - identify if an indivdual has any communication/information needs relating to disability or sensory loss and what they are
record - record these needs clearly, unambigously and in a standarised way
alert - ensure that recorded needs are highly visable when patient records are accessed and prompt for action
share - include this information as part of existing data sharing processes
act - take steps to ensure that individuals receive information which they can access and understand, and recieve communication support if they need it

What does if the adjustment is resonable depend on?

disability, praticality, would it overcome the disadvantage, size of organisation, money and resources availible, cost, what changes have already been made

What should individuals know about their medications?

name, why?, how much?, when to take?, positive and negative effects, Where to store?, When the next supply is due?