Understanding Care Experience as a Protected Characteristic
Protected characteristics are aspects of one's identity safeguarded by law to prevent unfair treatment based on traits like age, disability, and sex. Addressing discrimination faced by care leavers is crucial, as they often encounter stigma and lack of understanding in various settings. Making care experience a protected characteristic in Medway would necessitate organizations to treat care-experienced individuals on par with others with protected characteristics, ensuring fair policies and adjustments for their support. Your views on this matter are essential for fostering positive change and amplifying the voices of care-experienced individuals.
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Care Experience as a Protected Characteristic
What are protected characteristics? An aspect of someone s identity that is protected by the law meaning they cannot be unfairly treated by having this certain trait (such as age, disability, sex ) The aim of protecting these characteristics is to reduce discrimination and provide reasonable adjustments to ensure all individuals can thrive, regardless of their unique needs.
Why is this important? Care leavers in Medway have: Experienced discrimination in various settings such as school, housing and employment. Reported there is stigma attached to being care experienced and there is a lack of understanding from the wider community about what this means. Felt shame over their care experience.
What does this mean? Over 63 councils across England have voted to adopt care experience as a protected characteristic. What would this mean for Medway? Organisations within Medway should consider those with care-experience on the same level as they consider those with other protected characteristics. This could mean that organisations, to ensure their policies are fair, must make reasonable adjustments to their practice so they can best support care experienced individuals to access and thrive in their roles. The council will continue to proactively seek out and listen to the voices of care experienced people when developing new policies based on their views.
Whats next? We want to hear from you with your views about care experience becoming a protected characteristic in Medway. Be ambassadors for change. You will be mentored and supported in their campaign. Make your voices heard to Medway Councillors, and the wider Government. Join other young people across England campaigning for change at a government level.
