Website of the Department of Health

The People’s Award for Dignity in Care

This has been created to officially say thank you to our health and social care staff and highlight the remarkable work they do.

Sir Michael Parkinson, the Dignity in Care Ambassador says: “Most of us will at some point be in contact with care services - be that in our work, or as a service user, a carer, a relative or friend. The People's Award for Dignity in Care is a great way for us to recognise the dedication of health and care staff treating people with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
Nominations are open now for the public to put forward health and social workers for the award. Members of staff will also be able to nominate their colleagues, if their nomination is supported by a member of the public.

• Nominate now - People's Award for Dignity in Care 2009 (opens new window)
• Sir Michael Parkinson talks about the People’s Award for Dignity in Care (opens new window)
• Phil Hope MP, talks about the People’s Award for Dignity in Care (opens new window)

The Dignity challenge

The Dignity Challenge lays out the national expectations of what constitutes a service that respects dignity, based on the learning of the last nine months. It focuses on ten different aspects of dignity. These are the things that matter most to people.

• Download Dignity Challenge: High quality care services that respect peoples dignity (PDF, 21K)
• The Dignity challenge (opens new window)

What's new

The latest news on the Dignity in Care Campaign.

• What's new in dignity in care
• Dignity in Care (opens new window)

The Dignity Tour

Since May 2008 the Minister for Care Services has been taking part in a regional tour to help share best practice on dignity in care and to raise the profile of the campaign.  The National Dignity Ambassador, Sir Michael Parkinson has accompanyed him on part of the tour.

• The Dignity Tour (opens new window)
• The Dignity Ambassador, Sir Michael Parkinson (opens new window)

About Dignity in care for older people

High quality health and social care services should be delivered in a person-centred way that respects the dignity of the individual receiving them. Unfortunately, older people are not always treated with the respect they deserve.

Dignity in Care Matters – Conference 25 November 2008
On the 25 November, 200 Dignity Champions from across the nation joined together to attend the National Dignity Champions conference 'Dignity in Care Matters' held in London.

• About Dignity in care

Dignity in mental health services

The Dignity in Care Online Practice Guide has been extended to focus on the following specific areas of services for people with mental health needs:

• Tackling stigma
• Inpatient
• Older people’s mental health

• SCIE Dignity Practice Guide - dignity in mental health services (opens new window)

Nutrition summit and action plan

Delivery of the Nutrition Action Plan (published in October 2007 as a result of nutrition summits in March and July 2007), and information on the Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board.

• Nutrition summit and action plan

Dignity in care - your views

Between June and September 2006, the Department asked for your experiences of Dignity in care through our online survey. This feedback has helped us to inform our work at a national level and improve standards of Dignity in care.

• Dignity in care public survey October 2006 - report of the survey
• What you are telling us about dignity in care: weeks nine and ten
• What you are telling us about dignity in care: weeks seven and eight
• What you are telling us about dignity in care: week six
• What you are telling us about dignity in care: week five
• What you are telling us about dignity in care: week four
• What you are telling us about dignity in care: week three
• What you are telling us about dignity in care: week two
• What you are telling us about dignity in care: week one

Listening events

Before the launch of the campaign in November 2006 the Department held a series series of listening events across the country. These events gave us the opportunity to talk to older people and their carers about how they felt about the care services they receive, and hear from people who provide those care services as well as organisations representing the interests of older people.

• Listening events
• Report of the regional Dignity in Care events