Dignity in care

The Dignity in Care campaign aims to stimulate debate around the need for people receiving care services to be treated with dignity and respect.

The dignity challenge

As part of the campaign, health and social care organisations have been asked to meet the dignity challenge, which states that high-quality care 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 family member
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 of 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

Part of the work we are doing to meet this challenge is to ask care organisations in North Yorkshire to sign up to our dignity in care charter.

North Yorkshire's dignity in care charter

The Dignity in Care Charter underlines what a person can reasonably expect when they need and use care and support services in North Yorkshire. It has been created by us, the Independent Care Group and other partners. Together, we want to ensure that people enjoy the dignity and respect to which they are entitled.

We are also asking people to become Department of Health dignity in care champions.

The Dignity in Care Charter

The Charter is a public statement that care providers and commissioners of services have agreed to.

The Charter underlines what a person can reasonably expect when they need and use care and support services in North Yorkshire.

Dignity in Care Champions

Encourage members of staff to sign up as Dignity in Care Champions via the Department of Health Dignity in Care website.

Dignity

Respect each individual for their uniqueness and make each individual feel that they matter.
Have zero tolerance of all forms of abuse.
Promote and encourage positive and respectful attitudes

Respect

Support people with the same respect you would want for yourself or a member of your family.
Treat each person as an individual with their own needs, wants desires and expectations.
Respect people's rights to have relationships.

Privacy

Respect people's rights to privacy and autonomy.
Enable people to maintain independence, choice and control whilst managing any risks.
Ensure that services are provided in a way that meets an individual's likes and dislikes.
Act to alleviate people's loneliness and isolation.

Choice

Provide a personalised service and treat each person as an individual.
Listen and support people to express their needs and wants.
Engage with family members, carers and care partners where this is appropriate.

Rights

Help to maintain all entitlements associated with citizenship.
Ensure that people feel able to complain without fear of repercussions.

Fulfilment

Assist people to maintain confidence and a positive self esteem.
Support them in the realisation of personal aspirations and abilities in all aspects of daily life.

Nutrition

Adhere to guidance on nutrition in care homes and in the community and encourage nutritional screening.

Staffing

Those who commission services and those who provide them have a responsibility to ensure services are properly staffed and funded and are properly trained, vetted, supervised and supported.

Policies and Procedures

Policies and procedures will be in place to support Dignity in Care, to challenge discrimination and inequality, and to respect individual needs, covering:

Whistle blowing
Equal opportunity
Complaints and compliments
Safeguarding adults

Commissioning

Involve all stakeholders and partners, including users, carers and providers, to commission high quality personalised care.

Dignity in care champions

A dignity champion is someone who believes that being treated with dignity is a basic human right and that care services must be compassionate, centred on the person receiving the care, as well as efficient. More than two million health and social care staff in the UK work around the clock to provide support and care for those in need. So far, about 11,000 of them have signed up to be dignity champions, including more than 200 in North Yorkshire. You can sign up as a champion via the Dignity in Care network website.