What are discrimination and anti-discriminatory practice in care?
Equality, diversity and anti-discriminatory practice in care: the types and effects of discrimination, and how care workers and services promote equality and challenge discrimination.
An SQA Higher Care answer on equality, diversity and anti-discriminatory practice: what discrimination is, its types (direct, indirect, prejudice, stereotyping), its effects on service users, and how care workers and services promote equality and challenge discrimination.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
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What this dot point is asking
The SQA wants you to understand equality, diversity and anti-discriminatory practice: what discrimination is and its types, the effects it has on service users, and how care workers and services promote equality and challenge discrimination. This is the value of equality examined in depth.
The answer
Equality and diversity
What discrimination is
Prejudice and stereotyping
The effects of discrimination
Anti-discriminatory practice
Examples in context
A care home that only offers a standard menu disadvantages residents whose religion or culture requires particular foods, an example of indirect discrimination that anti-discriminatory practice would fix by adapting the menu. A worker who assumes an older resident "won't understand" and so does not explain a decision is acting on a stereotype, denying the person choice and dignity. Challenging a colleague who uses discriminatory language, and reporting it, is anti-discriminatory practice in action. Showing how a value, a type of discrimination and a concrete care situation connect is what makes a Higher answer convincing rather than abstract.
Try this
Q1. Define direct and indirect discrimination. [2 marks]
- Cue. Direct: treating someone less favourably on purpose because of a characteristic. Indirect: a rule or practice that disadvantages a particular group even though it applies to everyone.
Q2. Explain two effects discrimination can have on a service user. [4 marks]
- Cue. Any two developed: lowered self-esteem, anxiety or depression, withdrawal and isolation, unmet needs and physical decline, loss of trust in the service.
Q3. Describe one way a care worker can challenge discrimination. [2 marks]
- Cue. Challenge discriminatory language or behaviour when it happens, and report it; adapt care to individual needs; use inclusive communication.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of SQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
SQA Higher Care6 marksExplain the effects that discrimination can have on a service user.Show worked answer →
A -mark explain question. Markers reward developed effects linked to the service user, not single words.
Strong answers cover effects across physical, emotional, social and behavioural areas: low self-esteem and loss of confidence; anxiety, depression and poor mental wellbeing; withdrawal and isolation if a person stops engaging; physical decline if needs go unmet because of prejudice; and loss of trust in the service.
The discriminator is developing each effect, for example "repeated discrimination can lower self-esteem, which may lead a service user to withdraw and stop asking for the help they need".
SQA Higher Care4 marksDescribe two ways a care worker can promote equality in a care setting.Show worked answer →
A -mark describe question: two developed ways, marks each.
Acceptable points include: treating every service user fairly and meeting needs regardless of background; adapting care to individual needs and preferences (food, language, religious observance); challenging discriminatory language or behaviour from others; using inclusive communication such as interpreters or accessible formats; and valuing diversity by learning about each person's culture and identity.
Description of the action, not just naming it, earns the marks.
Related dot points
- The care values that underpin contemporary care practice, what each value means in a care setting, and why applying them protects the health, wellbeing and dignity of service users.
An SQA Higher Care answer on the care values that underpin practice: dignity, respect, choice, confidentiality, equality, anti-discrimination, safety, privacy and independence. Covers what each value means in a care setting and why applying them protects service users.
- The legislation and codes of practice that govern contemporary care in Scotland, what the main laws and codes require, and how they protect service users and guide care workers.
An SQA Higher Care answer on the legislation and codes of practice governing care in Scotland: equality, data protection, adult support and protection, the Health and Social Care Standards and the SSSC Codes of Practice. Covers what each requires and how it protects service users.
- Applying care values to practice: how care workers put dignity, choice, rights, confidentiality and anti-discriminatory practice into action in real care settings, and the consequences of failing to.
An SQA Higher Care answer on applying care values to practice: how care workers turn dignity, choice, rights, confidentiality and anti-discriminatory practice into everyday actions in care settings, person-centred care, and the consequences when values are not applied.
- The factors that affect an individual's needs and wellbeing: physical, social, economic, environmental and emotional factors, and how they shape the care a person requires.
An SQA Higher Care answer on the factors that affect needs and wellbeing: physical and health factors, social and family factors, economic factors such as poverty, environmental factors such as housing, and how these influence the care a service user requires.
Sources & how we know this
- Higher Care Course Specification — SQA (2018)
- Higher Care - Course overview — SQA (2025)