Ways of challenging discrimination that bring about positive change

How and when we challenge discrimination depends on individual circumstances, it need not necessarily be confrontational. There are ways of challenging discrimination which are more likely to bring about change than other ways of going about it, as follows:

• By being polite but firm and clear about your views (i.e. being assertive)
• Pointing out the issue, this might be all that is required for others to realise that their plan of action may be discriminatory particularly if their intentions were not malicious
• Educating the person about the facts, in order to recognise their prejudices and misinformation
• Remembering that it is often not what we say but how we say it

If someone does not take on board the need to change or if they are motivated by malice and are deliberately perpetrating this type of abuse it is important to use formal process (See section 18.18 and 1.14 for Active’s grievance procedure and complaints procedure)

Use to answer question 4.2c of the Care Certificate