1. Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation

2. Why do we have policies and legislation in health and social care?
Use the images below to help as you discuss this question.
Click to reveal some model answers.
Legislation and policies aim to:
reduce discrimination
ensure fair access to services
promote equality
improve the quality of care
Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation

3. Aims of legislation and national policies
What 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.
Gender
Disability
Age
Being refused a job for being ‘too old’.
Female staff earning less money than men.
Not being able to access services.
Race
Religion
Click on the empty boxes to reveal some suggestions.
Being called racist names.
People in care homes not having their dietary requirements respected.
Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation

4. Children have the right to:
The Children’s Act 1989 and 2004
The rights of children in the UK are based on two Children’s Acts.
What rights would you expect them to include?
achieve
be kept safe
be healthy
Children have the right to:
Click to reveal the answers.
be heard
enjoy life
Click here to access The Children’s Act 1989 and here for 2004
Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation

5. NHS and Community Health Care Act 1990
This Act sets out the rules by which the NHS must assess and provide for patients according to their needs, circumstances and requirements.
Click here to access the 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:
Click to reveal some model answers.
Susan’s needs will be assessed.
She might be able to stay at home and receive support e.g. home help and adaptations e.g. hand rails
Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation

6. Care Standards Act 2000 Care homes Staff
The Care Standards Act aims to raise standards in places of care such as care homes.
Click on the arrow buttons below to sort these requirements under who they apply to.
Care homes
Staff
The environment must
promote well-being.
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.
The environment must
promote well-being.
The environment must
promote well-being.
Staff must adhere
to a code of conduct.
Staff must adhere
to a code of conduct.
Staff must adhere
to a code of conduct.
Care homes must meet
minimum standards.
Care homes must meet
minimum standards.
Care homes must meet
minimum standards.
Care homes must be
inspected by the NCSC.
Care homes must be
inspected by the NCSC.
Care homes must be
inspected by the NCSC.
Correct staffing levels
must be in place.
Correct staffing levels
must be in place.
Correct staffing levels
must be in place.
Hide answers
Click here to access the Care
Standards Act 2000.
Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation

7. Data Protection Act 1998
The Data Protection Act makes sure that organisations securely store personal information such as an individual’s address and medical history.
What do you think the benefits of this piece of legislation could be for users of healthcare services?
Benefit 1
Benefit 2
Benefit 3
Confidential information won’t be shared with others.
Click on the empty boxes to reveal some suggestions.
Promotes trust between the service user and professional.
Provides reassurance that private information is safe.
Click here to access the Data Protection Act 1998
Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation

8. Disability Discrimination Act 1995
This Act aims to prevent anyone with a disability being discriminated against within employment, transport, goods, facilities and services, housing and education.
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.
Click here to access the Disability Discrimination Act 1995
Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation

9. Race Relations Act 1976
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?
Rashida works in A & E in a Cardiff hospital. She works in a mainly white team.
Record your ideas here:
Click to reveal some model answers.
strong employee/employer relations
a sense of belonging
a feeling of equality for people of different racial groups
Click here to access the Race Relations Act 1976.
Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation

10. Which Act?
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.
Includes a code of conduct
for social workers
Allows individuals
to maintain
their independence
Children have the right
to be healthy
The Children’s
Act 2004
(1 click)
Care homes will be fined
if they don’t meet
minimum standards
Individuals can be helped
to live safely
in the community
Standards of daily life
improved for individuals
in care homes
The NHS and
Community
Health Care
Act 1990
(2 clicks)
Children have the right
to be safe
Social workers trained
and regulated
A needs assessment
must be carried out for
anyone in need of care
The Care
Standards
Act 2000
(3 clicks)
Children have the right
to achieve
Services should be
appropriate to a child’s
needs and in their best
interests
Care homes regularly
inspected by the NCSC
Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation 10

11. National policies Legislation Policies
What is the difference between legislation and policies? Click on the arrow buttons below to sort these statements under each category.
Legislation
Policies
Plans of action to help
organisations comply
with the law.
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
Plans of action to help
organisations comply
with the law.
Plans of action to help
organisations comply
with the law.
A way of doing things.
A way of doing things.
A way of doing things
This is government
law.
This is government
law.
This is government
law.
Regulations
Regulations
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.
Hide answers
Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation

12. Why might a care organisation set its own policies?
In response to concerns by service users
To outline safe working practices
Why set policies?
To comply with laws
To influence the culture of the organisation
Click to reveal the answers.
Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation

13. Which policy?
Match the benefits to the appropriate policy. Click each benefit below to highlight the colour that matches the policy on the right.
Equal
opportunities
policy
(1 click)
Individuals cannot be
discriminated against
based on age, gender,
race or disability
All interviews should be
free from discrimination
or bias
Using equipment safely
protects staff from
injury or distress
Individuals should be
selected for a post
based on merit alone
In a care setting, this policy
protects both staff and
patients from harm
Helps to promote equality
in the work place
Recruitment
policy
(2 clicks)
Moving
and handling
policy
(3 clicks)
Click below for example policies:
Equal opportunities
Recruitment
Moving and handling
Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation 13

14. Local policies
You 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.
Click here to open a task sheet you can use to record your research.
Module 6: The impact of national policy and legislation