Dignity: making it happen

Annie Stevenson

Head of Older People’s Services

Elaine Cass

Practice Development Manager

Workshop aim

Examine how dignity can be made fundamental to care provision by identifying our own barriers and solutions

Overview of selected research

What dignity means:

a state, quality or manner worthy of esteem or respect; and (by extension) self-respect. Dignity in care, therefore, means the kind of care, in any setting, which supports and promotes, and does not undermine, a person’s self-respect regardless of any difference.

What protects dignity?

resilience older people’s rights, person centred care

What threatens dignity?

ageism discrimination abuse

Respect

Respect

training and induction (delivery involving older people)

zero tolerance of negative attitudes towards older people

person-centred and not service or task-oriented.

'time to talk’ involve intergenerational work

Communication

information acceptable levels of both spoken and written

English culturally appropriate don’t make assumptions, always ask communication training - dementia listen

Social inclusion

social networks transport respect and utilise people’s skills community presence

Autonomy

equality control accessible information take time to support decision making participation in service development previous history and preferences advocacy DP/IB

Privacy

confidentiality, information on a ‘need to know’ basis respect personal and sexual relationships in

conjunction with careful assessment of risk choose interpreters with the consent of the service

user permission to enter someone’s personal space,

access to personal possessions and documents privacy for conversations, telephone calls, mail single-sex facilities discreet service provision

Hygiene and personal appearance

maintain personal hygiene, appearance, living environment, to personal standards

lifestyle choices don’t make assumptions about appropriate

standards of hygiene for individuals

Mealtimes and nutrition

routine nutritional screening food accessible between mealtimes time to eat – staffing levels discreet assistance choice to socialise or eat in private don’t make assumptions about people’s preferences

always ask staff with the time and the skills to prepare a freshly

cooked meal of choice good quality food that is appetising facilities for people to make drinks and snacks access to water

Complaints

people feel confident to complain staff and managers view complaints as a

means of ensuring that the service is responsive, and not as a threat

problems are picked up at an early stage and lessons are learned which lead to service improvements

poor practice is highlighted and rectified vulnerable people are protected and have

access to advocacy

Whistle blowing

staff awareness whistleblowing policy included in induction staff should be given information on external

means of support (such as PCaW).

Conclusion – a culture of good practice

dignity is the cornerstone competent staff, effective leadership, genuine

participation are the building blocks SCIE’s resources will help

SCIE’s resources

All resources can be downloaded from our website www.scie.org.uk

Most resources are available in hard copy

- call 020 7089 6840 All resources are free

Workshop

15 minutes groups of 4 /5

What are the barriers to ensuring dignity in care?

What are the possible solutions?

Sharing ideas

15 minutes

Feedback on discussion and practice examples

Summing up

Action planning What will you do when you return to your

workplace? How will you tell whether it makes a

difference?