Social Care Services Should Be Accessible To All

{mosimage}People should have equal access to care services whatever their gender, age, sexual orientation, race, belief or disability, according to the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI). Launching the Commission’s Equalities and Diversity Strategy, CSCI Chair Dame Denise Platt said: “Social care services must provide for people in a way that meets their individual needs. People tell us they want to live as independent citizens, making their own choices and taking their own risks. Services should be culturally sensitive, inclusive and accessible, if they are to make a positive difference to people’s lives that support the outcomes they want. People also need to be able to obtain information in an accessible form to help them make choices about their care.

“Much of our information is now available in different languages, Braille and other formats – our website has been revamped to make it easy to use and has just won an award for accessbility.

“As well as using our influence and experience to ensure social care services are accessible to all, the Commission will practise what we preach by ensuring all our staff receive fair and equal treatment at work.”

The Equalities and Diversity Strategy was drafted following consultation with people who use social care services and CSCI’s staff, to ensure it fully represents the needs and interests of the people it serves.

The strategy details how the Commission will develop recruitment and retention processes, and provide training to our staff so that they can incorporate diversity into everything they do.

CSCI will also continue to develop our capacity to publish information in accessible formats, make links with people who use services and use our information to influence policy and practice both nationally and locally.