Dignity in Care

"Our challenge is to put dignity at the heart of care services"
Ivan Lewis MP - Minister for Care Services

High quality services that respect people's dignity should:

Have a zero tolerance of all forms of abuse
Support people with the same respect you would want for yourself or a member of your family
Treat each person as an individual by offering a personalised service
Enable people to maintain the maximum possible level of independence, choice and control
Listen and support people to express their needs and wants
Respect people's right to privacy
Ensure people feel able to complain without fear or retribution
Engage with family members and carers as care partners
Assist people to maintain confidence and a positive self esteem
Act to alleviate people's loneliness and isolation
Follow the link on the right of the screen to find out how you can become a Dignity Champion. This online network has been set up to help Dignity Champions take forward the Dignity in Care campaign.

Dignity Champions will play a key role in helping create a care system where there is zero tolerance of abuse and disrespect of older people.

Anyone who is committed to taking action to improve dignity in care is welcome to join as a Dignity Champion. That includes existing older people's champions and care service providers as well as the people who use and commission those services. It is also open to advocacy organisations, MPs, councillors and members of the public.

Since August 2007, the Department of Health’s Dignity in Care campaign has been extended to cover other vulnerable adults starting with aspects of Mental Health services. As such, there are some additional examples and practice points on how to provide services which respect people’s dignity for this specific client group. For more information follow the link on the right of the screen to the Dignity in Care Practice Guide.
 

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Middlesbrough - Dignity and Respect Awards in Adult Social Care

Within Middlesbrough there are people who are passionate and committed about providing the best possible social care with dignity and respect. We want to acknowledge and publicise their work so that others can benefit from their good practice. We would like you to identify and nominate these people and groups for a Dignity and Respect Award. The nominations and awards will be open to service users, carers or care provider involved in Adult Social Care Services in Middlesbrough. It also includes individuals and groups from the statutory, independent and voluntary sector, those from partner agencies and integrated Adult care services. 

We have selected six award categories, they are:

• Service User/Carer outstanding contribution
• Empowered another
• Engaged well with family members and carers
• Gone the extra mile and made a real difference
• Shown Dignity and Respect
• Safeguarding Adults and helped improve the life of others

Further details on the award categories can be found on the Nomination form which you can download from the right of the screen. We would like all nominations to be returned to Clement O'Donovan, 3rd Floor, Civic Centre, Middlesbrough. TS1 2XH by the 16th May 2008.

The Dignity and Respect nominees and their nominators will be invited to attend a special celebration event held at Middlesbrough Teaching and Learning Centre on the morning of 6th June where the Dignity and Respect award winners will be announced.
Further details on the special celebration event will be circulated next month.
If you need further information about the awards or the nomination process please contact Clem O'Donovan on (01642) 729450.

Please spend a few minutes and nominate - you could be making a real difference.

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