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Asist abhors discrimination and attempts to implement
an equal opportunities policy that allows equal access to
the services of Asist. Similarly,
it views its Equal Opportunities Policy as statement of its obligation to
protect from discriminatory practice all those who are associated
with Asist, its staff, volunteers and people involved in other
organisations that Asist has dealings with on behalf of their Service
Users.
Asist recognises that some of its
clients will hold discriminatory views and this can
adversely interfere with our role as an advocacy agency.
It has identified two areas where discriminatory views and actions
are relevant to our role as an advocacy service.
Asist will make our policy clear to all those involved in order to
ensure there is no confusion in this area.
Situation1:
Where a service user wishes our advocate to do something or express
a view, which will discriminate against a person or persons employed by a
service provider.
An example of this is where a
service user, based on his or her own racial prejudice, does not wish to
be treated by a black doctor. Asist
views this as an employment issue whereby a person will be discriminated
against purely on the basis of their racial origins rather than their
competency to provide a service. Asist
cannot condone this belief and will not respond by informing the
discriminated person concerned; the person concerned should not have to be
burdened by this information directly.
Asist will inform the service user that we are unable to take the
instruction but we will, if they wish, inform the management of the
organisation concerned of the service users request not to be treated by
the person concerned. Asist
believes that organisations will have appropriate procedures for
confronting such requests from service users and protecting the employment
(and civil) rights of their employees.
Situation 2:
Where a service user uses language that is discriminatory on the
basis of sex, race, orientation etc.
Asist believes that its staff and
volunteers do not have to endure discriminatory language and attitudes.
Advocates will respond by asking the service user not to behave in
such a manner. If they refuse
to desist in the future, advocacy may be withdrawn.
Additionally, Asist advocates will
defend their partners from discriminatory behaviour that is on the basis
of their race etc. In its
dealings with other organisations etc, Advocates will confront racist
behaviour and views by ensuring that the managements of these
organisations are made aware of the behaviour of their employees.
If a service user refuses to
accept an Advocate purely on the basis of a discriminatory attitude Asist
will not offer the Service User an alternative advocate.
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