SCIE Practice guide 09: Dignity in care
Dignity challenge
5. Listen and support people to express their needs and wants
By this we mean:
Provide information in a way that enables a person to reach agreement in care planning and exercise their rights to consent to care and treatment. Openness and participation are encouraged. For those with communication difficulties or cognitive impairment, adequate support and advocacy are supplied.
Dignity tests:
- Do all of us truly listen with an open mind to people receiving services?
- Are people receiving services enabled and supported to express their needs and preferences in a way that makes them feel valued?
- Do all staff demonstrate effective interpersonal skills when communicating with people, particularly those who have specialist needs such as dementia or sensory loss?
- Do we ensure that information is accessible, understandable and culturally appropriate?
Some ideas from practice:
- Getting the message across: colourful posters
- Facilitating dignified communication
- A multi-racial outlook
- Filming the family: Tracy’s story (Isle of Wight Advocacy Trust)
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