Dignity Champions

The K&C LINk Dignity Champions are a group of volunteers who work together to improve people’s experiences of health and social care in the borough. The Dignity Champions carry out assessments of local health and social care services and provide feedback to the LINk. The LINk then produces a report on their findings and makes recommendations for improvements to the service.

Background

The existence of Dignity Champions in the UK began with the launch of the government’s ‘Dignity in Care’ strategy in 2006. The objective was to change the culture of care services and improve the quality of care and the experience of people using services including hospitals, community services, care homes and home support services.

In Kensington & Chelsea, the initiative began when the K&C LINk Older People’s sub-group decided to sign up to the ‘Dignity Challenge’ in early 2010. The work began with assessments of residential care homes and nutrition in hospitals but now it has expanded to include services such as home care provision, mental health and learning disabilities services.

Hammersmith & Fulham LINk has recently started its own work with Dignity Champions and our teams will be working together closely for the foreseeable future.

What is dignity and why does it matter?

Every human being has a right to be treated with respect:

“Recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.” – Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Dignity means respecting people regardless of their backgrounds and differences. The work of the K&C LINk Dignity Champions centres around 10 principles.

High quality services that respect individuals should:

  1. Have a zero tolerance of all forms of abuse
  2. Support people with the same respect you would want for yourself or a member   of your family
  3. Treat each person as an individual by offering a personalised service
  4. Enable people to maintain the maximum possible level of independence, choice and control
  5. Listen & support people to express their needs & wants
  6. Respect People’s Right to Privacy
  7. Ensure People feel able to complain without fear of retribution
  8. Engage with family members and carers as care partners
  9. Assist people to maintain confidence and a positive self-esteem
  10. Act to alleviate people’s loneliness and isolation

(Department of Health 10-point Dignity Challenge)

Our Work

There are now 25 trained Dignity Champions working on behalf on the K&C LINk. In total they have completed 10 assessments – 2 hospitals, 5 residential care facilities, one domiciliary care service and one day centre. You can read the reports here as soon as they become publicly available.

Miranda Barry Day Centre (February 2012)

Chelsea & Westminster Hospital 2011 (December 2011)

Plan Care Homecare Services (October-December 2011)

The Royal Marsden Hospital (September 2011)

St Wilfrid’s Care Home (June-July 2011)

Alan Morkill House (May 2011)

3 Beatrice Place Continuing Care Nursing Home (Feb-April 2011)

Thamesbrook Home (November 2010)

Ellesmere House Care Home (November 2010)

Chelsea & Westminster Hospital 2010 (June 2010)

Spot Checks

In addition the Dignity Champions are now carrying out ‘spot-checks’ on services they have previously assessed to follow up on how the recommendations from their assessment have been implemented. The Champions have completed one spot-check so far.

Ellesmere House Care Home – Spot Check (February 2012)

Becoming a Dignity Champion

Dignity Champions come from all walks of life but share the common goal of improving standards of care in health and social care services. You don’t need any previous experience to be a Dignity Champion as full training is given, just a desire to make a difference. If you would like to get involved or would just like more information, please contact:

Anna Rooke, Dignity Champion Facilitator on anna.rooke@hestia.org or telephone 020 8968 7049.