Delivering Dignity – opportunity not challenge Des Kelly OBE Executive Director National Care Forum NATIONAL DIGNITY COUNCIL Annual Conference 1 February 2016

Delivering Dignity: opportunity not challenge - a few thoughts for the day

A few thoughts for the day - summary 1.Introduction 2.The context of social care and support 3.Defining the best care 4.Ensuring all care meets the dignity challenge 5.And finally … implications for providers

Thank you to the National Dignity Council and all Dignity Champions About ‘hearts, minds and actions’ “Being treated with dignity is a basic human right” And fundamental to the idea of quality of care 1. Introduction

2. Context and crisis?

Public sector funding - continued austerity Chronic under-funding Introduction of the National Living Wage On-going workforce challenges

Context and crisis? The fragile state of the care sector Protecting progress made: changing attitudes and culture and working together Language and experience Crisis in social care will be a crisis for NHS

3. Defining the best care

Dignity is at the heart of the best care – a transfer of power? Clear standards and expectations A zero tolerance of abuse Valuing individuality – person-centred

Defining the best care Exercising choice and control Listening and responding to complaints The power of relationships My Home Life and the Eden Alternative

4. Ensuring all care meets the dignity challenge

Choose the right staff and pay attention to retention Induction and on-going development opportunities Regular professional supervision as a means of guidance, development and support Team working and motivation

Meeting the dignity challenge “The better people are managed, the stronger their commitment; the stronger their commitment, the better their performance; the better their performance, the better the services provided.” Improving Front Line Services ADSW and Scottish Executive, 2005

Meeting the dignity challenge Its about leadership and management – pure and simple

5. And finally… implications for providers

Some implications for providers Greater transparency Personal budgets and Direct Payments – new forms of commissioning? Working together at a local level Sustainability and the pace of change

A few concluding comments Integration, integration, integration Innovation, flexibility and new ways of working … but ‘rebalancing’ of the sector inevitable Key to implementation is leadership (and particularly the frontline manager)

And finally… “When people not used to speaking out are heard by people not used to listening… then real changes can be made.” John O’Brien