Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

This policy applies to:

• All care services delivered to clients in their own homes
• Recruitment, selection, training, and management of all employees and contractors
• Relationships with commissioners, healthcare professionals, and business partners
• All communications, marketing, and public-facing materials

• Direct discrimination: Treating someone less favourably because of a protected characteristic.
• Indirect discrimination: Applying a policy that puts people with a protected characteristic at a disadvantage without objective justification.
• Harassment: Unwanted conduct that violates dignity or creates a hostile, degrading, or offensive environment.
• Victimisation: Treating someone unfairly because they made or supported a discrimination complaint.
• Failure to make reasonable adjustments: Not adjusting practices to avoid substantial disadvantage to a disabled person.

Every person who uses Kome Care's services has the right to:

• Receive care that is person-centred, adapted to their individual needs, preferences, and values
• Be treated with dignity and respect at all times
• Make choices about how, when, and by whom their care is delivered
• Express their religious, cultural, and personal preferences, and have these respected in their care plan
• Raise a concern or complaint if they believe they have been treated unfairly, without fear of negative consequences

Kome Care provides equal opportunities in all aspects of employment including: recruitment and selection, pay and benefits, training and development, promotion and career progression, disciplinary and grievance procedures, and redundancy and dismissal.

All vacancies are advertised in a way that encourages diverse applications. We assess candidates solely on their skills, qualifications, and ability to do the job.

If you believe you have been subject to discrimination, harassment, or any breach of this policy:

• Informally, by speaking to your care coordinator or their line manager
• Formally, through our Complaints Policy
• Externally, by contacting the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) on 0808 800 0082 (free and confidential)
• By raising a concern with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) at www.cqc.org.uk

Employees who raise concerns in good faith are protected from any form of detriment or victimisation.

Kome Care monitors the application of this policy through staff and client feedback, complaint analysis, and recruitment data. This policy is reviewed annually by the Registered Manager and updated to reflect changes in legislation or best practice.

Regulatory basis: Equality Act 2010; Human Rights Act 1998; Care Act 2014; Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 — Regulation 9 (Person-Centred Care)