Delivering Dignity


Six years after its initial launch in 2006, the Department of Health’s Dignity in Care Campaign continues to go from strength to strength.


The campaign, which aims to put dignity and respect at the heart of all care services, has now attracted over 23,000 Dignity Champions - individual ambassadors who have each pledged their support for ensuring that people who need care receive the respect and compassion they deserve.


Indeed, across CIC many of our own staff have taken up the challenge of becoming a Dignity Champion and are rallying together to promote this important cause. Brenda Cawton, Manager at The Whinnies in Gateshead, home to three adults with learning difficulties, says: “CIC is built upon the vision of an inclusive society, in which every person is treated with dignity and respect; so it comes as no surprise to me that so many of our staff feel so passionately about supporting the Dignity in Care campaign.”


Brenda herself is now chair of CIC’s North East Dignity Forum. The group, which includes 22 Dignity Champions from across the region, meet on a bi- monthly basis to share good practice


and devise new and innovative ways to promote dignity across the organisation.


One such innovative approach can been seen in CIC’s North West region, where Dignity Champions there have developed DAVE (Dignity and Values Events) a specialised package of dignity training events for staff. Service Manager, Leanne Cretney, who played a pivotal role in developing the training says, “DAVE was devised with the goal of educating staff, reinforcing best practice and ensuring that everyone in CIC understands the importance of safeguarding the dignity of each and every person we support.”


She continues, “We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the staff who have taken part so far,


suggesting that this training is making a difference and having a positive impact on the lives of the people we support.”


Pat Cunningham, Office Manager at CIC’s Liverpool Office, recently attended the DAVE training. She says: “Even though I am not directly involved in delivering care services, I was encouraged to attend the training event by the Dignity Champions in my office. They believe, as do I, that it is vital for everyone in our charity to understand the basics of excellent care.”


She concludes: “The training definitely opened my eyes as to what the word ‘dignity’ really means and the importance of treating people as you would want to be treated."


February 1st was Dignity Action Day and our services across England and Scotland marked this important date with a series of events that allowed our staff and the people we support to explore dignity and what it means to them. Here are some of the highlights…


North East England


People supported by CIC across the North East, Leeds and Leicester held a community event in Stockton-On-Tess using their creative talents to explain why everyone deserves dignity and respect. Activities included drama, arts and crafts, as well as information sessions for the public.


Carlingwark House


Carlingwark House Care Home in Dumfries held a pyjamas and coffee morning. As staff and residents sipped their coffees, they joined in a discussion on the topic of “What Does Dignity Mean To You?’


St Patrick's & Winsford Grange St Patrick's Senior Care home in Widnes held activities ranging from reminiscence sessions hosted by a local World War II expert, to


decorating the home's 'Dignity Tree' with handwritten messages about what dignity means. Winsford Grange residents braved the bad weather to release 10 white balloons, one for each point of the Dignity Challenge (see right).


Liverpool


Liverpool region marked Dignity Action Day with a celebration inviting people supported by CIC to explain their experiences of receiving support and what dignity means to them, through writing, drawing, recording and talking. A book of these thought provoking exchanges will be produced as a permanent record of the day.


Portsmouth


Our Portsmouth team hit Wickham town centre armed with leaflets and trays of


20 | You First | www.c-i-c.co.uk


biscuits, inviting members of their local community to pop into their local office for a Dignity Coffee Morning. Within half an hour, their office was full, with local neighbours keen to find out more about CIC and Dignity Action Day. The Portsmouth team made a dignity tree out of paper and invited guests to write on it what dignity means to them, with responses including: “Treat me how I treat you”, “Let me be me” and “Include me, don’t exclude me.”


Caroline Bairstow, CIC Assistant Director, says: “Being treated with dignity is a right that all of us are entitled to, yet too often people with care and support needs are not afforded the respect they deserve. At CIC, we believe that we should live in an inclusive society where everyone is valued and because of this, we wholeheartedly support the aims of the Dignity in Care Campaign.”


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