Cultural Competency
Culturally Competent
Our mission is to provide you and others with the appropriate support you need to become culturally competent, which can be seen as being, ‘a process by which individuals and systems respond respectfully and effectively to people of all cultures, languages, classes, races, ethnic backgrounds, religions, and other diversity factors in a manner that recognises affirms, and values the worth of individuals, families, and communities and protects and preserves the dignity of each’. (Gallegos, Tindall and Gallegos 2008)
Achieving Cultural Competency involves far more than an awareness of cultural norms, it requires a whole systems approach recognising personalisation, and we can support you in a variety of ways in becoming a culturally effective organisation.
‘The Institute on Assets and Social Policy’, Brandeis University (2015)
The Importance of Cultural Competency
▶Meet legislation, regulations and guidelines.
▶Reduce inequalities in the health status of people based on ethnic, racial, religious and cultural backgrounds.
▶Improve quality of care and health outcomes.
▶Decrease the likelihood of liability claims.
▶Caring, compassionate work colleagues are empowered by the confidence and skills to engage and perform more effectively.
Cultural Challenges
▶People of different cultures may be hesitant to follow Western medicine.
▶Individuals from certain cultures may not ask questions when they don’t understand.
▶Well-intentioned remarks or actions may be misunderstood, insult or anger a person due to cultural differences in meaning.
How Culture Influences Care
▶Language and literacy remain barriers to early diagnosis and treatment
▶Health, healing and wellness belief systems impacting on how service users/patients respond to interventions and care plans.
▶The word and notion of ‘dementia’ non-existent in certain languages, resulting with the condition considered being a mental health illness, and the stigma showered on the family.
▶Providers lacking ‘cultural humility’, viewing things solely from their own limited set of values, creating further access barriers for service users and families from other cultures
Health Benefits
▶Increased confidence and trust in healthcare.
▶Better understanding of dementia in BAME communities and understanding of the importance of early diagnosis.
▶Personalised cultural appropriate ‘reminiscence’ tools being used with greater results.
▶Cost savings from an increase in overall health.
▶Better preventive care for patients.
▶Reduced care disparities between ethnic and cultural groups.
The Broader Benefits
Cultural competence greatly benefits health and social care organisations and residents alike. It encourages respect and better understanding, which leads to increased wellbeing, growth, and safety. This also results in greater participation and engagement.
We can assist you in gaining the many social, health, and commercial benefits that cultural competence brings to health and social care organisations.
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Social Benefits
▶Participation and involvement of community members in health issues are increased.
▶Assists in promoting community inclusion and greater community participation and involvement in health issues.
▶Trust and confidence in health and social care organisations is increased amongst BAME communities.
▶Service users, families and service providers are able to develop a sense of mutual respect and understanding.
▶Promotes service users and family responsibilities for health.
Business Benefits
▶Incorporates more diverse viewpoints, concepts, and tactics into the decision-making process.
▶Reduces roadblocks to progress.
▶Staff members with better cultural awareness, knowledge, and abilities have more confidence and skills.
▶Enhances the effectiveness of care services.
▶Increases the organisation’s market share.
▶Allows you to comply with legal and CQC regulatory requirements.
"We all know that ‘dementia is not supposed to discriminate’, there are however many within our Black and Global Majority communities who are at higher risks due to health issues, some with language and literacy challenges, many with different health belief values. When services are not tailored to their specific needs, this is when discrimination occurs."
- (Carl Case 2022)
How Culturally Appropriate Care is Relevant to the CQC Regulations and Your Organisational Growth?
During CQC inspections, the key lines of enquiry (KLOEs), the below criteria will be examined.
The regulations that Culturally Appropriate Care is relevant to are:
- Regulation 9: Person-centred care
- Regulation 10: Dignity and respect
- Regulation 11: Need for consent
Our service is also relevant to CQC key questions.
Safe
- Protecting people from discrimination and unfair treatment over characteristics protected by the Equality Act.
Effective
- Looking at people’s needs and protecting them from discrimination.
- The service takes these needs into account when planning meals, drinks and decoration.
- Our service incorporates Mental Capacity Act – for example, by consulting people that know them.
Caring
- We help staff to support residents and service users in culturally sensitive ways, ensuring they recognise when people’s preferences are not being properly respected.
- Encourage compassion.
- Make visitors feel welcome.
Responsive
- Individuals, families and carers can be involved in personalising our resources. This includes identifying their choices and preferences.
- Staff receive the right support and training to help them understand and meet these needs.
- Helping people engage in activities that are culturally relevant.
Gallegos, J.S., Tindall, C. and Gallegos, S.A. (2008)
‘The need for advancement in the conceptualization of cultural competence.’
Advances in Social Work, 9, 1, 51-62.
“An Ounce of Practical Advice is Worth a Pound of Theory”
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