Working with ethnically or racially minoritised people with dementia or mental health needs
A series of three briefings, with associated key messages and reflective questions, are provided for this subject area.
Barriers to accessing social care services
Key messages
- Stigma can be a barrier to accessing services for ethnically or racially minoritised people.
- Some minoritised people may also feel shame about having dementia or mental health needs. Their carers may also feel guilty and fear isolation from their community if they seek help.
- Past experiences of discrimination can impact a person’s willingness and confidence to engage with services. Professionals may be viewed as lacking time and understanding in aspects of cultural identity important for a person’s care and support.
- Limited availability of care workers can mean that no professionals are available with in-depth understanding of a person’s language and religion. Also, culturally appropriate provisions such as food are not always available.
- People may find the social care system complex and difficult to navigate.
Reflective questions:
- Have you had experience of working with people whose race, ethnicity and/or culture have presented barriers to their access to appropriate care?
- In what ways do you or your organisation make sure that people from minoritised groups are aware of the support available to them?
- How do you ensure that there are opportunities to talk about how a person’s racial and cultural identity may impact their care and support needs?
- What information or resources are available that would help to enable you to support people better?
Best practice for social care practitioners
Key messages:
- Cultural competency training can help practitioners to be aware of assumptions and possible biases they might have that can adversely affect their work with ethnically or racially minoritised people.
- Assessments and care plans should specifically address ethnicity and culture: cultural awareness checklists can help to achieve this.
- Person-centred care plans that address ethnicity and culture will help to offer more choice and flexibility.
- Communication methods are important to consider – such as translation in a diverse and relevant set of languages, recruitment of bilingual staff and reducing stigma by sharing culturally-specific information in community spaces.
Reflective questions:
- What training and resources are available to support you with cultural competence in practice?
- What services do you know of in your area that support people with specific cultural or ethnic needs?
- Is there anything else that would help you to better meet their care and support needs when working with ethnically or racially minoritised people?
Best practice when commissioning services
Key messages:
- Awareness and communication are important factors e.g. inclusive front door services, translation of resources, interpreters and translators, recruitment of bilingual workers and use of bilingual advocates.
- Partnership working - linking in with voluntary sector, community and religious groups which are often viewed as more culturally aware. Formally recognised bilingual advocates can help people navigate services.
- Longer term care provision should align with a person’s cultural values such as food, activities, and company to reduce feelings of isolation.
- Seeking the views of ethnically minoritised carers can help commissioners to understand the impact of inequalities. This can help the development of services that align and complement the support available from families and carers.
Reflective questions:
- What are the opportunities and mechanisms in your organisations or areas to support co-production in the design of services with ethnically or racially minoritised people?
- What partners do you currently have in your network who offer resources and support for ethnically or racially minoritised people? Are there other partnerships you would be interested in developing?
