Legislation and Code of Practice in Health and Social Care

3233 Words13 Pages
Describe one piece of relevant legislation and one code of conduct explaining how it promotes diversity. Outline one piece of relevant legislation The Equality Act 2010 The Equality Act 2010 was created to combine and unify previous anti-discrimination legislation relating to protected characteristics e.g. The Race Relations Act 1976, The Disability Discrimination Act 1995, The Sex Discrimination Act 1975, etc. The Act introduced a simpler framework of protection against direct and indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation in work, education, services and public functions. The Act defines this kind of treatment as being unlawful behaviour. By simplifying the law, removing inconsistencies and making it easier for people to comply with it has ensured that public bodies will play their part in making society fairer and promoting diversity. The Act sets out personal characteristics that are protected by law and the behaviour that is defined as being unlawful. Under The Equality Act 2010 there are nine protected characteristics. Protected characteristics are the grounds upon which discrimination is unlawful. The nine protected characteristics are: 1. Age, 2. Disability, 3. Race, 4. Religion and belief, 5. Sex i.e. gender, 6. Sexual orientation, 7. Marriage and civil partnership, 8. Pregnancy and maternity. The Equality Act affects everyone responsible for running an organisation or who might do something on its behalf, including staff or volunteers if the organisation has them. How does The Equality Act 2010 promote diversity? What do we mean by diversity? Diversity is the valuing of our individual differences and talents, creating a culture where everyone can participate, thrive and contribute. Under The Equality Act the nine protected characteristics cannot lawfully be used as a reason to treat

More about Legislation and Code of Practice in Health and Social Care

Open Document