Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation

Use the images below to help as you discuss this question.

Why do we have policies and legislation in health and social care?

Legislation and policies aim to:

• ensure fair access to services• promote equality

• reduce discrimination

• improve the quality of care

Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation

Aims of legislation and national policiesWhat unfair treatment might arise for employees or service users with the characteristics below, if there was no legislation in place? Record your ideas then click below to see our suggestions.

DisabilityGenderAge

Race Religion

Female staff earning less money than men.

Being refused a job for being ‘too old’.

Not being able to access services.

Being called racist names. People in care homes not having their dietary requirements respected.

Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation

The Children’s Act 1989 and 2004The rights of children in the UK are based on two Children’s Acts. What rights would you expect them to include?

Click here to access The Children’s Act 1989 and here for 2004

achieve

be heard

Children have the right to:

be kept safe

enjoy life

be healthy

Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation

NHS and Community Health Care Act 1990

How could Susan’s needs be taken into account as a result of the Act?

Susan is 85 years old. She has osteoporosis and suffers from pain and limited mobility. She doesn’t want to move into a care home as she feels too young.

Record your ideas here:Record your ideas here:

• She might be able to stay at home and receive support e.g. home help and adaptations e.g. hand rails

This Act sets out the rules by which the NHS must assess and provide for patients according to their needs, circumstances and requirements.

• Susan’s needs will be assessed.

Click here to access the NHS and Community Health Care Act 1990

Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation

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Care Standards Act 2000

The environment mustpromote well-being.

The environment mustpromote well-being.

The environment mustpromote well-being.

Staff must adhereto a code of conduct.

Staff must adhereto a code of conduct.

Care homes must meetminimum standards.

Care homes must meetminimum standards.

Care homes must beinspected by the NCSC.

Care homes must beinspected by the NCSC.

Care homes must beinspected by the NCSC.

Correct staffing levelsmust be in place.

Correct staffing levelsmust be in place.

Correct staffing levelsmust be in place.

Care homes Staff

Staff must adhereto a code of conduct.

Care homes must meetminimum standards.

Click on the arrow buttons below to sort these requirements under who they apply to.The Care Standards Act aims to raise standards in places of care such as care homes.

Click here to access the Care Standards Act 2000.

Care homes•The environment must promote

well-being.•Care homes must meet

minimum standards.•Care homes must be inspected

by the NCSC.

Staff•Staff must adhere to a code of

conduct.•Correct staffing levels must be

in place.

Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation

Data Protection Act 1998

What do you think the benefits of this piece of legislation could be for users of healthcare services?

• Confidential information won’t be shared with others.

The Data Protection Act makes sure that organisations securely store personal information such as an individual’s address and medical history.

• Promotes trust between the service user and professional.

• Provides reassurance that private information is safe.

Benefit 1 Benefit 3Benefit 2

Click here to access the Data Protection Act 1998

Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation

Disability Discrimination Act 1995

Click on the video icon to watch a clip about four individuals living with disability.In what ways could these individuals be helped by the Disability Discrimination Act? Click here for a task sheet to use while you watch the video.

This Act aims to prevent anyone with a disability being discriminated against within employment, transport, goods, facilities and services, housing and education.

Click here to access the Disability Discrimination Act 1995

Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation

Race Relations Act 1976

• strong employee/employer relations

This Act promotes equality and makes racial discrimination illegal. The Act applies to a broad range of areas, such as housing, employment and education. What positive impact could the Race Relations Act have for Rashida, a young doctor working in a hospital?

• a sense of belonging• a feeling of equality for people of different racial groups

Click here to access the Race Relations Act 1976.

Record your ideas here:Record your ideas here:Rashida works in A & E in a

Cardiff hospital. She works in a mainly white team.

Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation

The Children’sAct 2004(1 click)

The NHS andCommunity Health Care

Act 1990(2 clicks)

The Care Standards Act 2000(3 clicks)

Match the benefits to the appropriate Act that legislates for it. Click each benefit below to highlight the colour that matches the Act on the right.

Children have the right to be safe

Standards of daily lifeimproved for individuals

in care homes

Includes a code of conduct for social workers

A needs assessmentmust be carried out foranyone in need of care

Care homes will be fined if they don’t meet

minimum standards

Social workers trainedand regulated

Individuals can be helpedto live safely

in the community

Allows individualsto maintain

their independence

Children have the rightto be healthy

Which Act?

Children have the rightto achieve

Services should beappropriate to a child’sneeds and in their best

interests

Care homes regularlyinspected by the NCSC

Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation

Hide answers

National policies

Plans of action to helporganisations comply

with the law.

Plans of action to helporganisations comply

with the law.

Plans of action to helporganisations comply

with the law.

A way of doing things. A way of doing things

This is government law.

This is government law.

RegulationsRegulations Regulations

It would be a criminal offence not to

comply with this.

It would be a criminal offence not to

comply with this.

It would be a criminal offence not to

comply with this.

Legislation Policies

A way of doing things.

This is government law.

What is the difference between legislation and policies? Click on the arrow buttons below to sort these statements under each category.

Legislation•This is government law. •It would be a criminal offence not to comply with this.

Policies•Plans of action to help organisations comply with the law.•A way of doing things•Regulations

Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation

Why might a care organisation set its own policies?

To outline safe working practices

To comply with laws

Why set policies?

In response to concerns by service

users

To influence the culture of the organisation

Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation

Equal opportunities

policy(1 click)

Recruitmentpolicy

(2 clicks)

Moving and handling

policy(3 clicks)

Match the benefits to the appropriate policy. Click each benefit below to highlight the colour that matches the policy on the right.

Helps to promote equality in the work place

Individuals cannot be discriminated against based on age, gender,

race or disability

Individuals should be selected for a post

based on merit alone

In a care setting, this policy protects both staff and

patients from harm

All interviews should be free from discrimination

or bias

Using equipment safely protects staff from

injury or distress

Which policy?

Click below for example policies:Equal opportunitiesRecruitmentMoving and handling

Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation

Local policiesYou have looked at national policies and legislation and how these affect care settings, staff and service users. Now investigate what policies are in place in your local care settings.

Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation

Click here to open a task sheet you can use to record your research.