The Significance of Anti-Racism on British Development and Provision of Social Care - Essay Example

The Significance of Anti-Racism on British Development and Provision of Social Care Introduction In order to asses the significance of anti-racism on the development and provision of Social Care in the United Kingdom, it is necessary to examine closely what are the existing anti-racism laws applicable to every individual in the United Kingdom regardless of ethnicity, religion or place of origin. In going through this, international laws through the United Nations, European laws as mandated by the membership of the United Kingdom to the European Council, existing treatises, among others that uphold the rights of every individual shall be incorporated in the discussion in order to facilitate clearly the link between these anti-racism laws or policies in the development and provision of social care. Likewise, it is also necessary to define and enumerate social care policies and existing provisions found in the United Kingdom and establish whether or not these are implemented, taken seriously in the parliament and various government agencies for development and improvisation, as may be necessary. But in consideration of the above, it is also necessary to integrate notions of racism, and ethnicity in this topic as may be described by Cashmore and Troyna (1990, p 2) as "A number of people who perceive themselves to be in some way united because of their sharing either a common background, present position or future-or a combination of these. The ethnic group is subjectively defined in that it is what the group members themselves feel to be important in defining them as a united people that marks them off, and not what others consider them to be. There is frequently a coincidence between what others feel to be a racial group and what the members themselves think of themselves. For example, whites may think of Asians as a racial group; Asians may think of themselves as united and therefore an ethnic group." Discussion Politically, it is the aim of every policymaker and legislator to imbibe freedom, justice and equality among individuals in a constituency irregardless of age, gender, economic status, religion, colour, language or ethnicity. Policies and laws are established in order to facilitate what may be perceived as ideal and socially or politically correct society. But in reality, since the May 1954 court decision in the United States when Chief Justice Warren asked, "'Does segregation of children in public schools solely on the basis of race, even though the physical facilities and other "tangible" factors may be equal, deprive the children of the minority group of equal educational opportunities" and answered "'We believe that it doesin the field of public education the doctrine of "separate but equal" has no place," (Cashmore and Troyna, 1990, p 3) there is much to be done in order to promote anti-racism worldwide, including in the United Kingdom. In the book, the importance of education was also emphasised in order to achieve mentioned ideals on equality based on the assumptions that "education equips us to be aware, sensitive and contributing members of society. Second, that we can improve ourselves socially by being educated and gaining the qualifications that are likely to lead to well-paid and prestigious jobs. Third, that through learning from and about others, we can liberate ourselves from the ignorance and prejudices of those before us," (Cashmore and Troyna, 1990, p 121) but it has been conceived that education policies such as the 1944 Act failed to achieve its good intentions, but "the social position of parents has an important bearing on what their children achieve at schools." If the foundation for achieving eradication of racism and discrimination was only achievable in ideals, how much more have minority races have to bear Existing anti-racism laws and policies. There exists international laws such as the International Bill of Human Rights with existing bodies that safeguard and monitor these rights: the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), their instruments such as the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention (1989, No. 169), and the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to national or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. As for the prevention of discrimination, there is the Equal Remuneration Convention (1951, No. 100), the Discrimination (Employment and occupation Convention (1958, No. 111), the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination, and the Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice (OHCHR, 2006). The Race Relations Act created the Commission for racial Equality (Blackstone, Parekh & Sanders, 1998) and the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 Chapter 34 provided the background for the current Social Work Services' Anti-Racism Action Plan issued in 2002. It requires all named public authorities to "eliminate unlawful racial discrimination, promote equality of opportunity, promote good race relations" and the general duty applies to Scottish Ministers, the National Health Services, the Police, bodies who discharge a function on behalf of a Public Authority under contract, and Local Authorities. It also requires that such bodies "assess and consult on the policy's likely impact, monitor the policy for adverse impact on race equality, publish the results of the above, ensure public access to information and services, train all staff in their new duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act" (Glasgow Council, 2006). It was noted under the Race relations Act that "When originally enacted the Race Relations Act 1976 ("the 1976 Act") made it unlawful to discriminate on racial grounds in relation to employment, training and education, the provision of goods, facilities and services, and certain other specified activities only. The 1976 Act applied to race discrimination by public authorities in these areas but not all functions of public authorities were covered. The 1976 Act makes employers vicariously liable for acts of race discrimination committed by their employees in the course of their employment, subject to a defence that the employer took such steps as were reasonably practicable to prevent the employee discriminating. However, police officers are office-holders, not employees. Chief officers of police were, therefore, not vicariously liable under the 1976 Act for acts of race discrimination by police officers. The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) in its Third Review of the 1976 Act proposed that the Act should be extended to all public services and that vicarious liability should be extended to the police. The Report of the Inquiry into the death of Stephen Lawrence recommended, among other things, "that the full force of the Race Relations legislation should apply to all police officers, and that Chief Officers of Police should be made vicariously liable for the acts and omissions of their officers relevant to that legislation." SUMMARY OF THE 2000 ACT The 2000 Act's main purposes are to: extend further the 1976 Act in relation to public authorities, outlawing race discrimination in functions not previously covered; place a duty on specified public authorities to work towards the elimination of unlawful discrimination and promote equality of opportunity and good relations between persons of different racial groups; make chief officers of police vicariously liable for acts of race discrimination by police officers; and amend the exemption under the 1976 Act for acts done for the purposes of safeguarding national security," (Crown Copyright, 2000). For the education sector where children are prepared to become progressive and contributing members of the society, anti-racism is promoted. Schools are mandated to adopt and implement policies that render equal opportunities of all races, ethnicity, gender, colour and religion. Likewise, local and city governments are enjoined to promote anti-racism as exemplified by the Glasgow's Anti-Racist Policy Statement providing: "developing proactive and effective anti-racist policies across all our services sustained implementation of the Commission for Racial Equality Standard "Racial Equality means Quality" strengthening the inclusion of all communities in the development of Council policy and the delivery of services establishment of effective consultation mechanisms which allow the voice of all excluded and black and minority ethnic communities to be heard, including young people within those communities monitoring service delivery to black and minority ethnic communities and publishing results in an annual review targeting resources (both existing and new) towards tackling racism and exclusion," (Glasgow City Council, 2006). Social Care Services. There are a varying degree of provision and support for most of the activities of individuals that may be or should have been supported with social services. These include adult protection, child protection services, community care, counselling, day care, family support, foster care, informal care, leaving care, long stay care, long term care, mediation, mentoring, multi-disciplinary services, placement, residential care, respite care, short term care, social care provision, and transitional services (SCIE, 2006). These services, in view of the individual rights protection and privileges of every individual, may be availed irregardless of financial status, language and ethnicity. There may be adjustments to provisions depending on the availability of public services and private services which may be applicable for the individual in need. Indications of Racism in the United Kingdom It is not enough to declare that racism is eliminated or that there exist anti-racism laws and policies within the United Kingdom. Manifestation of violations would indicate otherwise and gauge how well does provision and development of social care are implemented. One such case is what the media such as the BBC News (2002) have presented to the public, which is the "blame the victim" culture or mentality focused on the death of British African Stephen Lawrence, of which the compulsory tests on language and British society for immigrants was also linked. As a result of the protest on Lawrence's case, the 1999 McPherson Inquiry outlined that, "Institutional racism is the collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin. It can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behaviour which amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness and racist stereotyping which disadvantage minority ethnic people," (Edinburgh Council, 2006). Another news report (Howe, 2003) where the British police was alleged to have "harboured the vilest forms of racial prejudice and hostility to blacks and Asians." 12 policemen have resigned or were suspended on matters to do with race on that report that castigated on Home Secretary David Blunkett (Howe, 2003). In a report (Sacdev, 2002) tackling improvements in service provision to minority ethnic communities that reviewed researches undertaken to examine the efficacy and appropriateness of service provision, had the study by Jones and Butt (1995) conclude that there exists confusion and inactivity when it comes to servicing Black families by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) child protection teams of which 50 out of 61 teams surveyed working with Black families were perceived as a white organisation providing services for mainly white clients. The research found evidence that specialist Black projects were established but mainstream social care services cannot meet the needs of Black children and families. In another 1997 study (Barn, Sinclair and Ferdinand) examining how three social services departments meet the needs of minority ethnic families and children, it was found out that local authorities lack adequate management information systems focusing on race and ethnicity, religion, language and diet so that it could meet the needs of minority ethnic children, promote their welfare and protection. An inspection of eight social services departments (SSDs) by the Social Services Inspectorate, found that most SSDs lack enough strategies in place to deliver appropriate services to minority ethnic families while offering services to children and families that did not meet their proper needs sensitively (O'Neale, 2000). Likewise, in a survey of 84 family centres in nine local authority areas (Butt and Box, 1998) found that although Black families found the centres to be useful in ensuring their survival, majority of the centres are not accessible to Black families in need. This demonstrates the services provided by the statutory sector. Neither the adoption of equal opportunities policies (EOPs) was enough to guarantee availability and accessibility of services for ethnic minority families. Lack of information about available services are also a major barrier to parents in accessing family support as revealed by the study exploring use of family support services by South Asian Families (Qureshi, Berridge and Wenman, 2000). The study further found there is a low level of family support for Asian families and low level of access caused by lack of specific policies focusing on social service provision to South Asian families, lack of professionals and senior managers from the South Asian community in the department, negative assumptions about South Asian families, and lack of confidence and skills in the departmental staff to provide culturally proper services. Another racial issue that has been raised in several studies pertain to undocumented workers or "illegal aliens" (Guarnizo and Smith, 1998 and Anderson, 2001) where immigration policies become the trigger of racism. It has been pointed out that the British state view them uniformly, their origin states present the problems, as encountered in their embassies where the regularisation process is underestimated. In the studies, it was found out that employers in the UK who are supposed to support and use the policy use them as a weapon to "hold" their workers (Anderson, 2001). Conclusion: Cashmore and Troyna (1990, p. 203) already presupposed that "race relations situations are very much alive in contemporary society. And where race relations situations exist, so does inequality. And where inequality exists for longish periods one expects conflict." While there is an obvious on-going debate on race world wide, the United Kingdom, in its effort to minimise aggravating situations such as terrorism due to racism, it becomes a question that flow from the political leaders such as Blunkett down to the stream of services including the social services departments. It can be argued that the gaps in social care provision by the statutory sector led to the burgeoning of volunteers that complements these needs by efficient voluntary and private sectors which abound in the United Kingdom as may be revealed in the study undertaken by Butt and Box (1997). But it cannot be said that voluntary services and provisions are comprehensive and adequately address needs of the diverse race and minority ethnic groups in the UK. It has always been suggested that in order to succeed in anti-racism, all sectors, public and private, but most especially on the government sector, must join hands and be vigilant in promoting and implementing equality in political, economic, and social aspects and not limit campaigns in policies and lip service. References: Anderson, Bridget. "Different Roots in Common Ground: Transnationalism and Migrant Domestic Workers in London." Journal of Ethnic and migration Studies, Vol 27. 2001. Barn, R., Sinclair, R. and Ferdinand, D. "Acting on Principle: An Examination of Race and Ethnicity in Social Services Provision for Children and Families." British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering, London. 1997. BBC News. "UK's anti-racism policies 'failing'." 23 February 2002. From http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1837365.stm Blackstone, Tessa, Bhikhu Parekh and Peter Sanders. Race Relations in Britain: A Developing Agenda. Routledge. 1998. Butt, J. and Box, L. "Supportive Services, Effective Strategies." Race Equality Unit. 1997. Butt, J. and Box, L. "Family Centred: The Use of Family Centres by Black Communities." Race Equality Unit. 1998. Cashmore, Ellis and Barry Troyna. Introduction to Race Relations. Falmer Press. 1990. City of Edinburgh Council, The. "Anti-bullying and Anti-racist Policy and Guidelines for Educational Establishments." 2006. From http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/CEC/Education/bullyinginfo/bullypolicy.html Crown Copyright. "Explanatory Notes to Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 Chapter 34." 2000. Glasgow City Council "Glasgow's Anti-Racist Policy Statement." July 2006. From http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/YourCouncil/PolicyPlanning_Strategy/ServiceDepartments/SocialWork/glasgowcitycouncilsocialworkservicesantiracismactionplan20012004.htm Howe, Darcus. "Only Undercover Reporting Could Reveal the Truth about Racism in the Police." New Statesman, Vol. 132, October 27, 2003. Macy, M. "Towards racial justice A re-evaluation of anti-racism." Critical Social Policy, 44-45. 1995. pp 126-146. Modood, T. "Ethnicity and Complexity in Challenge, Change and Opportunioty: Overview Texts and Agenda. The Future of Multi-ethnic Britain: Report on the Conference." University of Reading, Autumn. The Runnymede Trust, London. 1994. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. "Charter of the United Nations." OHCHR. 1996-2006. From http://www.ohchr.org/english/law/ O'Neale, V. "Excellence Not Excuses: Inspection of Services for Ethnic Minority Children and Families." Department of Health, London. 2000. Qureshi, T., Berridge, D. and Wenman, H. "Where to Turn Family Support for Asian Communities." National Children's Bureau, London. 2000. Sacdev, Darshan. "Are We Listening Yet Working with minority ethnic communities - some models of practice - Summary." Barnardo's. 2002. From http://www.barnardos.org.uk/resources Singh, S. and Patel, VKP. "Regarding Scotland's Black Children: Policy, Practice and Provision." Barnardo's Family Placement Services and Scottish Black Workers Forum, Glasgow. 1998. Social Care Institute for Excellence. "Social Care Services." Accessed Oct. 10 2006. From http://www.scie-socialcareonline.org.uk/copyright.asp Read More