Putting people first: Equality and Diversity Matters 2 - Think Local Act ...

12 Putting people first – equality and diversity matters 2Accessible information to enable them tomake choices about services, for exampleDirect Payments, and to know their rights,including how to challenge discrimination.Participation in decisions about their future,particularly in assessments and reviewing careplans. People said that meant that adequatetime should be given for meeting with theperson, timely and clear communicationbetween staff and the person using the service,and advocacy available if needed.Choice and control in the services that theyuse, including good information and support ifthey choose Direct Payments and the option ofusing specific services for or run by black andminority ethnic communities.Their cultures to be recognised, whilstavoiding assumptions based on stereotypes.Services should understand the importance ofproviding culturally appropriate support andhave knowledge of how this can be done, aswell as engaging with individuals to find outhow they want their support to be provided.To make choices about how they engage withothers including opportunities to take an activerole in their families and in their communitiesand to develop friendships. These choices areimportant in reducing isolation, which can havea detrimental impact on well-being.Support from staff that have positive andrespectful attitudes towards them. Someblack and minority ethnic people want stafffrom the same community, particularly ifEnglish is not their main language. Someprefer to choose the gender of staff or staffwho they think communicate well and havepositive attitudes. Others stressed the needfor staff training to cover race equality issues.To feel safe and be free from discrimination,whether this is obvious prejudice or moresubtle discrimination. Where black andminority ethnic people do experiencediscrimination, they want opportunities toraise concerns easily and providers to respondin ways that are supportive to the personmaking the complaintAn opportunity to improve services – forthemselves as individuals and collectively.People particularly wanted to meet as groupsof black and minority ethnic people to shareexperiences for peer support and to changeservices for the better, including challenginginstitutional racism.