Dignity in Care
Dignity in Care
Definition
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 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 thoughput has, at time, been at the expense of the quality of the care experience.
The Dignity in Care campaign aims to re-dress that balance and to put dignity at the heart of care.
Policies and legislation
- Human Rights Act 1998
- Disability Discrimination Act
- Sex Discrimination Act 1975
- Race Relations Act 1976
Good practice examples
- Leicestershire County Council’s Dignity in Care campaign – This successful campaign introduced Older People’s and Adults’ Champions into Leicestershire, and includes a DVD with a moving poem, that is being used by other Councils.
- Staffordshire’s Dignity Challenge 2009
Useful links
- The Department of Health website has lots of information about becoming a dignity champion, People’s Award for Dignity in Care and the Dignity Tour and Dignity Ambassador visits, plus much more.
- The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has produced a Dignity in care guide for people who want to make a difference and improve standards of dignity in care.
- SCIE also hosts the Dignity in Care network.
Association of Social Care Communicators 