Privacy and Dignity

Privacy and dignity are two things we all value and have come to expect in our daily lives, and it's even more important for people receiving care and support.It is important that people feel like they matter, that their values, beliefs and personal relationships are respected. This applies to everyone, irrespective of age, gender, ethnicity, cultural background or their physical or psychological requirements. As a health and social care worker, you must recognise how important these values are, and be committed to maintaining and promoting the privacy and dignity of the people for whom you care and support. This course is designed to help you do just that.Two important values when providing care and support are privacy and dignity. There are many things we can do to safeguard a person’s privacy and dignity, and we must be aware of situations in which this could be compromised. Everyone has a different view on personal space. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Ensuring that we empower people to make decisions and choices about their own care goes a long way to promoting dignity. Active participation is a person-centred approach to care that celebrates the right of individuals to participate in their own lives and relationships.Just because we support an individual in a certain aspect of their life, they may be perfectly capable of managing their own health and wellbeing in all other aspects, and this should be encouraged at every opportunity.