Mike Evans

We had our Digni-tea day on Saturday 1st February and it was great, so much so, we ran overtime. Although only one tenant turned up, they'd invited their partner, sister and the sister's husband. We spent the first hour drinking tea and coffee along with a few biscuits and talking about human rights and how we all have to access the care system at some point, especially when we're at our most vulnerable. We then went through a list of emotion-cons; happy, content, calm and listed underneath were some of the following which we discussed in further depth: DIGNITY, RESPECT, FRIENDLINESS, PROFESSIONAL, SUPPORT, LISTENING, HELP, INDEPEDENCE, FAMILY, GOOD SERVICE, PERSON CENTRED SERVICE, NO JARGON, HUMAN RIGHTS, CHOICE, OPPORTUNITY, WELLBEIING, GOOD HEALTH, CONTROL, RECOGNISING MY NEEDS AND WANTS, RIGHT TO PRIVACY,

FREE FROM ANY FORM OF ABUSE, EQUALITY, COMPLAIN WITHOUT FEAR, FEEL GOOD ABOUT SELF, NOT TO FEEL LONLEY, NOT TO BE ISOLATED, ENGAGE WITH FAMILY/ FRIENDS /PARTNERS /CARERS, TO BE CONFIDENT, EXPRESS MY WISHES, SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, ETC.

We also did the same for sad, angry and afraid: LIVING IN FEAR, KEEPING SECRETS, BEING ABUSED; FINANCIALLY/ EMOTIONALLY/ SEXUALLY/ PHYSICALLY, ETC.‘GRASSING’(TELLING) IS WRONG, HARRESSING (BOTHERING) ME ALL THE TIME, DISRESPECT, UNFRIENDLY, UNPROFESSIONAL, TELLING ME WHAT TO DO, NO CHOICES, NO OPPORTUNITIES, NO HUMAN RIGHTS, BEING RACIST, BEING SEXIST, BEING HOMOPHOBIC, NOT BEING TOLERANT OF OTHERS RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, RESTIRCTING OR STOPPING ME FROM DOING WHAT I WANT, UNHELPFUL, UNSUPPORTIVE, NOT LISTENING, BAD SERVICE, BAD COMMUNICATION, IGNORING MY INDIVIDUAL WANTS AND NEEDS, BEING EXCLUDED FROM ALL ACTIVITIES, ETC.

An hour later, we broke for lunch and afterwards we did our Digni-tree using cut out papers leaves (green for good and yellow for bad, using the lists above or their own individual thoughts and concepts). Finally, I gave them a copy of our complaints/suggestions/compliments procedure along with the local authority's safeguarding procedure for members of the public and those receiving support and care services.

I went home at the end of my shift feeling elated and that I'd done something very worthwhile and constructive.