The right to dignity involves recognising the intrinsic value of people as individuals and the specific nature of each person’s particular needs. We maximise our client’s dignity as follows –

• We arrange for client’s who require assistance with personal tasks such as dressing, bathing and toileting to be helped, as far as possible, by the carer of their own choice and, if desired, of the sex of their choice.
• We ensure if asked that the client’s receive the necessary assistance with dressing and maintaining their clothes.
• We will try to provide help for clients with make–up, hairdressing, manicure and other elements of their appearance so that they can present themselves, as they would wish.
• We aim to minimise any feelings of any inadequacy, inferiority and vulnerability which client’s may have developed because of their changing circumstances.
• We treat clients with the sort of respect which reinforces individual characteristics, addressing them and introducing them to others in their preferred style, responding to specific cultural demands and requirements, and aiming to maintain relationships which are warm and trusting but appropriate to the relationship of carer and client.

Independence means having the opportunity to think, plan, act and take sensible calculated risks without continual interference to others. We maximise our client’s independence as follows –

• We help client’s manage for themselves wherever possible rather than them becoming totally dependent on the carer and others.
• We encourage clients to take as much responsibility as possible for their own healthcare and medication.
• Wherever possible, we involve the client fully in planning their own care needs, devising and implementing their care plans and managing their care records. In the case of a client unable to make informed choices, their relative or other representative will be involved in the care planning.
• We work with the carers, relatives and friends of clients to provide a continuous service.
• We create a favourable climate for the delivery of care which fosters professional attitudes around clients and focuses on capacities rather than disabilities.

In providing services to people with disabilities, there is a difficult balance to be struck between helping them to experience as much independence as possible whilst making sure that they are not exposed to unnecessary risks. Managing the security of clients therefore means creating an environment and support structure which offers sensible protection from danger but comfort and assistance whenever required. This should not be interpreted as a demand for a totally safe or risk-free lifestyle; taking reasonable risks can be interesting, exciting and fun, as well as necessary. We respond to our client’s need for security as follows –

• We ensure that help is tactfully at hand when a client wishes to engage in activities which may place them in situations of substantial risk.
• We help to create a physical environment which is free from unnecessary sources of danger to vulnerable people or their property.
• We will, if appropriate, advise clients about situations or activities in which their disability is likely to put them or their property at risk.
• Our carers are selected and briefed to provide services responsibly, professionally and compassionately.

We maintain our client’s personal rights as follows –

• If clients wish to participate in democratic elections, we will access the necessary information and provide or obtain any assistance they need to exercise their vote.
• If required, we help our clients utilise a wide range of public services, including social gatherings, libraries, education and transport.
• We encourage our clients to make full use of healthcare services in all ways appropriate for their medical, nursing, social, and therapeutic needs.
• We actively provide an easy forum and follow-up procedure for clients to lodge complaints or positive feedback on our services.
• Where appropriate, we support our clients in their participation of activities in their communities through voluntary or charitable work, local associations, or religious observance.

Choice consists of the opportunity to independently select from a range of options. We respond to our client’s right to choose as follows –

• We avoid a pattern of service delivery which leads to compulsory timings for activities such as getting up and going to bed.
• We manage and schedule our services such that client’s preferences for known carers with whom they have already established an empathy are met as far as possible.
• We respect client’s eccentricities, personal preferences and idiosyncrasies.
• We cultivate an atmosphere and ethos in our service delivery which welcomes and responds to cultural diversity.
• We encourage clients to exercise an informed choice in their selection of organisations and individuals who provide them with various forms of assistance.

Fulfilment is the opportunity to realise personal aspirations and abilities. It recognises and responds to levels of human satisfaction which are separate from physical and material needs, although it is difficult to generalise about fulfilment since it deals with precisely those areas of lifestyle where individuals differ from each other. We respond to client’s right to fulfilment as follows –

• We help clients participate in as broad a range of social and cultural activities as possible, including their participation in religious or spiritual matters.
• We respond sensitively and appropriately to the special needs and wishes of clients who wish to prepare for end-of-life.
• We make particular efforts to understand and respond to the wishes of clients in their participation in minority-interest events or activities.
• We will do everything possible to help a client who wants to achieve an unfulfilled task, wish or ambition.