Chapter 8 – Hazel Finlay (D1SOP8)

Acknowledge and Respect Differences in Beliefs and Cultural Practices

The word culture relates to the particular set of knowledge and characteristics shared by a group of people, for example ethnic minority groups, social groups, people of the same gender, people with disabilities and so on. In this chapter, the focus will be on culture and ethnic diversity in social care practice.

While Ireland has had diverse cultural and ethnic groups for many centuries (e.g., the Irish Traveller community and a small number of refugees (Loyal 2003)), since the 1990s Ireland has become an increasingly diverse society, with approximately 535,475 non-Irish nationals from 200 different nations recorded in the most recent census (CSO 2016). This diversity in our communities has significant implications for the social care profession and the delivery of services in all areas of social care. The challenge for those involved in social care is to understand and respect the beliefs and cultural practices of diverse communities, to recognise the particular challenges individuals and communities face due to their migrant and/or ethnic status and to practice in a non-discriminatory and culturally sensitive way. 

The relationship between the social care worker and the service user forms the basis of everything we do. Meaningful and trusting relationships create a space for service users to make positive changes in their lives (McCann James, de Roiste, & McHugh 2009). To build meaningful and trusting relationships we need to be self-aware and understand how we relate to others. When developing self-awareness it is important to reflect on our own personal values and beliefs and how they influence our behaviour and our relationships with people. Social and cultural factors such as gender, class, race, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion and so on determine our value base. We are often unaware of our values and beliefs until they come into conflict with those of others (McCabe and Timmons 2013). Working with diverse communities could potentially lead to conflict if we try to impose our own values and beliefs on the people we work with. Building meaningful and effective relationships with diverse communities requires the worker to be reflective, compassionate and open to learning about values, beliefs and cultural practices that are different from their own. We need to explore the identity of others without preconceived judgements and listen to and acknowledge the particular challenges individuals and communities face due to their migrant and/or ethnic status. Social care programmes are designed to build critically reflective and diversity competent workers by helping students develop a clearer sense of their own identity/diversity through the exploration of their own attitudes, values and beliefs and how they are (or are not helpful) in their development as a social care worker. The significance of culture and ethnic diversity is not only seen in the increased diversity of the people we work with, but also, the increased diversity of our social care students. How students engage in social care education with their peers, builds the foundation for becoming diversity competent or culturally component social care workers.

Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social care work. As social care workers, we are legally required to respect and uphold the rights of the people in our care. National standards and guidance documents such as Safeguarding Ireland and HIQA’s recent Guidance on a Human Rights-based Approach in Health and Social Care Services and the Social Care Workers Registration Board’s Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics (SCWRB 2019) promote a human rights- based approach in our health and social care services. A rights-based approach in social care work requires the worker to promote and protect the rights of the people in their care. These include the right to autonomy; the right to make important decisions about their own lives; the right to dignity and respect; the right to participate in family and community life; the right to equality; and the right to live a life free from discrimination and abuse (Safeguarding Ireland & HIQA 2019).

Culturally sensitive or ethnic-sensitive practice requires the social care worker to recognise and value differences in the beliefs and cultural practices of the individuals and groups in our care. However, being sensitive to cultural/ethnic needs and differences is not enough; good practice should also be anti-oppressive. Anti-oppressive practice is important in social care as many of the people we work with are from populations where their diversity can place them at risk of discrimination and oppression (McGinnity, Grotti, Kenny, Russell 2017). According to the Social Care Workers Registration Board (2019), in addition to a human rights-based approach, social care workers should also promote social justice in their practice. This requires the worker to critically examine their own work practices, challenge discrimination and unfair policy, and respect diversity and different cultural practices.

A Culturally Competent Approach

Culturally competent practice is a relatively new and emerging concept that incorporates both culturally sensitive and ethnic-sensitive practice and anti-oppressive practice. This approach is relationship based and ‘calls for the worker to be able to practise in ways that are consistent with expectations in the client’s culture’ (Yanca & Johnson 2008:53). When we are culturally competent in our practice, we adapt our skills to meet the needs of the service user and understand the effects of diversity on the worker, the services user, the environment and how all three interact (ibid.). Culturally competent practice or diversity-competent practice can extend to all areas of culture and diversity including gender, class, race, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, etc. (ibid.).

Developing a Culturally Competent Approach

(Adapted from Yanca and Johnson 2008)