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About the Dignity in care campaign

  • Last modified date:
    30 May 2008
  • Gateway reference:
    7386

On 14 November 2006, the Minister for Care Services, Ivan Lewis MP launched the first ever dignity in care campaign. The campaign aims to stimulate a national debate around dignity in care and create a care system where there is zero tolerance of abuse and disrespect of older people.

Health and social care services have made great strides in recent years in driving down waiting lists and improving access to services. However, this emphasis on throughput has at times been at the expense of the quality of care experience. The Dignity in care campaign aims to re-dress that balance and to put dignity at the heart of care.

Over the past nine months, we have heard from a wide range of people about what dignity means and it is clear from that listening exercise that dignity matters a lot to people. It is also clear that many people do not know what they should expect from a service that respects dignity.

The Dignity in care champions network

The champions will form an army of volunteers working together to raise the profile of dignity in care locally. Anyone who is committed to this cause is welcome to join the champions network.   All champions are being invited to the Dignity in care network Events and will have access to a fully interactive, online network to support them in their role.

Through the online network champions will be able to easily share with each other their views, their stories, examples of best practice, training and support materials, videos, photos, details of forthcoming events and anything else they may find helpful.

The Dignity in care practice guide

In partnership with the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) and the Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP) we have developed an online practice guide.

The guide has been designed to help support people front-line workers, practitioners, managers, commissioners as well as older people themselves and their carers to take up the Dignity Challenge.  It includes detailed information about what we mean by dignity in care, practical advice and tips on how you can make a difference with instant help for those using the Dignity Challenge.

Taking the campaign forward

The campaign is not a one-off event. It is a major priority for the Department of Health. It has wide spread support from our partners in the advocacy sector and will involve a sustained series of actions, events and policy development. These include:

  • a partnership with Investors in People (IIP) UK
  • an active programme of service improvement support to be delivered locally by the Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP)
  • support from the health and social care regulators
  • two further Dignity in care network events in Birmingham in January and March in Leeds
  • the Queen’s Mother’s Award for Dignity in care of Older People at the Health and Social Care Awards
  • the introduction of a Beacon Council Award for Dignity in care
  • a review of national policies including:
    - safeguarding vulnerable adults;
    - complaints reforms;
    - training and registration of the workforce    
    - improving the care environment.
  • extending the focus of the campaign to include all adult groups from next summer.

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