Welcome

Children in residential care should not have to leave important parts of themselves at the door to feel safe. Identity, culture, disability, language, faith, sexuality, gender, race, family history and care experience all shape how a child lives in a home. Anti-discriminatory practice is core to safe care, belonging and emotional wellbeing.

This course is for residential child care workers, senior residential workers, waking night staff, team leaders, deputy managers, registered managers and other staff in children's homes and residential child care settings. It is a frontline practice course and does not replace legal advice, local complaints procedures, HR guidance, or specialist assessment of protected-rights issues.

The course uses the Equality Act 2010 as the main legal frame for Great Britain and refers to NICE NG205, the children's social care national framework and the current children's homes inspection framework for residential practice context. Northern Ireland has separate equality legislation and local arrangements; staff there should follow local policy and legal guidance. Across the UK, the consistent practice point is this: children should be treated with dignity, fairness and respect for their identity.

Why This Course Matters

• Belonging is protective: children cope better when they feel seen and respected.
• Language matters: ordinary words can affirm or undermine identity.
• Discrimination can become normalised: homes must identify and challenge it early.
• One size does not fit all: some children need adjustments to thrive.
• Complaints and advocacy matter: children need clear routes to be heard when practice is unfair.

A Simple Anti-Discriminatory Spine

• Listen to how the child understands themselves.
• Use respectful language and routines.
• Challenge discrimination consistently.
• Adjust support where needed.
• Use complaints, advocacy and supervision to improve practice.