Black and minority ethnic people’s individual needs should be met in order to get appropriate care, says CSCI
5 August 2008
CSCI today published the second of its three equality and
diversity good practice bulletins, Providing Appropriate Services
for Black and Minority Ethnic People, which aims to help care
providers address the new agenda set out in the joint protocol
Putting People First.
The bulletin calls for black and minority ethnic people to have
their cultural and social needs addressed on a more personal level,
to make sure that their specific needs are adequately considered
during assessments by care homes and providers.
Dame Denise Platt, CSCI Chair, said:
“Black and minority ethnic people should feel that their
individual needs are being met, rather than providers making
assumptions about their cultural requirements.
“People can only make choices if they are given the opportunity
to direct their own care. Providers can help people by asking about
their cultural requirements and work with them to achieve
this.”
The bulletin suggests that providers should take a systematic
approach to removing barriers and individual attitudes that may
prevent race equality.
According to the bulletin, one quarter of those who spoke to
CSCI said that they had experienced discrimination1. The
bulletin argues that leadership in services is needed to change the
ethos: only 37%2 of the 400 registered services surveyed
say they are taking specific action on equality for black and
minority ethnic people.
While most people that spoke to CSCI3 said that they
would recommend the service to others and that the staff supporting
them were suitable, less than half felt their needs had been
adequately considered during these assessments.
The bulletin also states that many, particularly older, people
have low expectations of services or are reluctant to report
concerns. This means providers are not getting the feedback that
they need to improve.
The bulletin acknowledges that some service providers are
working closely with black and minority ethnic people to ensure
services are appropriate. However, it argues that it is essential
that all service providers work with people to inform them of their
rights, raise expectations and enable people to report concerns
more easily so that services are truly putting them first.
1From CSCI interviews and focus groups involving
63 black and ethinic minority people currently using
services
2From an analysis of 400 self-assessment forms
completed by services providers
3From CSCI interviews and focus groups involving
63 black and ethinic minority people currently using
services
Notes to editors
- Download CSCI’s bulletin: Putting people
first: Equality and diversity matters 2: Providing appropriate
services for black and minority ethnic people
- The joint protocol Putting People First, 10 December 2007, can
be found on the
Department of Health website.
- CSCI plans to publish one further bulletin on equality and
diversity matters – covering disability equality issues – in due
course.
- CSCI is the inspectorate for adults’ social care in England,
responsible for regulating and inspecting all social care providers
- whether in the public or independent sector, and for assessing
the performance of local councils in delivering their adults’
social services functions.
- The Commission’s primary aim is to improve social care by
putting the needs of people who use care services first.
- The Commission is chaired by Dame Denise Platt DBE and has five
Commissioners. The Chief Inspector is Paul Snell.
Media contacts
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Andy Keast-Marriott 020 7979 2093
Ray Veasey 020 7979 2094