Legislation

The Sex Discrimination Act aims to end discrimination based on gender. In addition it does this by making it illegal to treat a man and woman less favourably than someone else. It also doesthis by giving all genders rights and opportunities, having compaints procedures in place and protecting individuals at marriage.

The aim of the Race Relations Act is to end discrimination based on race. It does this by making it illegal to treat someone of a different ethnic group and race less favourably than someone else. The Race Relations Act have also set up commission for Racial Equality, gives ethnic groups rights and opportunities, has a complaints procedure in place and can't incite racial hatred.

The aim of the Disability Discrimination Act is to end discrimination based on disability. It does this by making it illegal to treat a disabled person less favourably than someone else. This act has set up the Disability Rights Commission and give all disabled people rights to education, employment and access to good facilities and services. The Disability Discrimination Act also gives disabled people rights and opportunities and has systems of redress in place.  This also has reasonable adjustments which means if a disabled person wanted to work as a teacher the headteacher of that school would have to make adjustments to make it possible for the disabled person to work there, they can't just say no.

The aim of the Children Act is to protect the welfare of children. This act involves, paramountcy, priority, parternership, particpation, parental responsibilty and protection.

• Paramountcy - The needs of the child is the most important.
• Priority - Making a child the main priority when they need their needs meeting.
• Partnership - Working together to ensure the child is safe and all their needs are met.
• Participation - Involving the child when it comes to making decisions.
• Parental Responsibilty - Parents being responsible for their childs health and well-being so they are safe and healthy; if parents werent responsible for their child the child would be put into responsible care where they would get looked after properly.
• Protection - Making sure the child is protected securly and there is no way of the child being in danger.

The Mental Health Act aims to protect people with mental health problems and the public. On the Mental Health Act individuals get assessed and have a consent to treatment. Individuals have the right to appeal and right to information. This act also includes Mental Health Commission.

The Human Rights Act aims to ensure all basic human rights are met. The European law is enforced in the UK outlining basic Human Rights that all can expect. The key principles of the Human Rights Act are: Right to life, Right to fair trial, Right to freedom of expression and Right to education.

The aim of the Disability Discrimination Act is the regulation of the processing of information the obtaining, holding, use or disclosure of such information.

• Personal data must be obtained fairly and lawfully.
• This covers both electronic form and manual data must be kept accurate and up to date and shall not be kept for long than it is necessary.
• Appropriate security measures must be taken against unlawful or unauthorised processing of personal data.
• Personal Data shall not be transferred to a country outside the European Economic Area unless specific exemptions apply.

The aim of the Access to Health Care Records Act is having rights to have access to health information written about themselves since 1st November 1991. This covers all written records but restrictions on computer records. A service user must make a direct request in writing to the service provider; a charge may be made.

The aim of the Access to Personal Files Act is to allow people to access material recordered about them after 1st April 1998 that an authority holds. Individuals can see information helped about them unless there is a good reason for doing so. Information about other people must be removed.

The aim of the NHS & Community Care is to allow people with chronic illness or in need of long term care who have lived in a state run instituation to live in their own home with adequate care or support or in a residential home setting. Local authority is expected to assess the care needs of any person with a disability, impairment, illness or mental health problem then decide what package of care is needed to meet their needs.

The aim of the Work and Families Act is to ensure people have statutory rights to leave and pay in connection with the birth or adoption of children or a dependant. This has allowed rights to request flexible working, including: compresses hours, flexible time, home working, job sharing, staggered hours and term time working. It also gives rights to take a reasonable amount of time off work to deal with an emergancy involving a dependant. Rights to request parental leave after one year of service and right to request leave arrangements paid or unpaid are at the discretion of your employer to cover intensive periods of care.

The aim of the Health and Safety at Work act is to set out general duties which employers have towards employees and members of the public and employee have to themselves and to each other. This is where they look at what the risks are and take sensible measures to tackle them. The main requirement on employers is to carry out a risk assessment, make arrangements for implementing the health and safety meausres identified by the risk assessment.