Green Tree Court, Exeter’s CQC rated ‘outstanding’ nursing and specialist dementia care home, has marked a commitment to promoting dignity and respect with a new initiative that will see all staff members eventually become ‘Dignity Champions.’ From now, becoming a ‘Dignity Champion’ is officially part of the week-long induction process that all new members of staff undergo when they join the Green Tree Court Team.

Michelle Gorringe, Managing Director of Lexicon Healthcare, which owns Green Tree Court, commented: “Being treated with dignity is a basic right – not an optional extra. And providing care in a way that maintains dignity at all times is core to our person-centred approach. Like many organisations, Green Tree Court has encouraged a small group of staff to act as ‘Dignity Champions.’ Their role is to ensure residents, staff, visitors, and contractors are always treated with total respect and dignity. But we felt this still wasn’t enough. Understanding the place of dignity and respect is so crucial to every member of staff, whether they are in our care team or in our kitchen, we felt that all staff should hold this vitally important role.

“As a result, we’ve changed our induction process. Now every new member of our team will make a commitment to champion dignity. In doing this, we are reinforcing the message that dignity is central to everything we do. And we’re equipping every member of the team with the knowledge and understanding they need to meaningfully fulfil this role and go above and beyond to deliver services that treat everyone as an individual.”

The 10 Dignity Do’s

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 and support people to express their needs and 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 positive self-esteem
10. Act to alleviate people’s loneliness and isolation

Photo (l-r): Care Assistant and Dignity Champion Katherine Courtney, who has recently joined the Green Tree Court team, is pictured with Green Tree Court’s Head of Care, Sarah Cundall, who delivers the dignity training.