Dignity in Care Award 2009 - Regional Winner - South Central

The 2009 Health and Social Care Award for Dignity in Care - South East region award went to:

Malmesbury Lawn Staff Group

Residents with dementia at a care home in Havant, Hampshire are reaping the benefits of film nights, garden walks and attractive new flower beds thanks to the work of a group of dedicated staff.

Staff at the Malmesbury Lawn home wanted to improve people's quality of life by adding more variety to their daily routine. Although they already provided a choice at mealtimes and allowed residents to choose their clothes every morning, they were eager to do more.

The group worked on three projects simultaneously and has achieved excellent results. Residents now have a safe, enclosed garden to walk around and can stop off for a cup of tea and a chat; a potting shed has been erected and new raised beds mean residents can plant flowers and vegetables. At the movie nights in the home's 'Roxy' cinema, ice cream is served during the interval.

Families as well as residents are benefiting from the improvements, say staff. The garden has encouraged family members - many of whom find it difficult to come to terms with a close relative's condition - to re-build their confidence in spending time with their loved one.

Above all, families remark on the friendliness and warmth of staff. "Nothing is too much trouble," said one relative. "They are all very tactile which is just the comfort and reassurance that people with Alzheimer's need. They spend a lot of their time when not being paid to organise and run activities.

"Even before mum moved in we knew that she would be well looked after. But the staff have exceeded expectations. In the sad circumstances of admitting mum to a home, this is the best thing that could have happened to our family."

The runners up were:

The Pain Team

Chronic pain sufferers have been brought much needed relief by the adoption of a uniquely holistic approach for a clinic run by the pain team at Milton Keynes hospital.

Patients are now offered psychological support as well as easier access to pain and medicine management advice after the clinic started up a support group and a drop-in centre.

Users say that it is the style of the team members that ensure they are treated with dignity; one commented that it is accepted that each patient is in pain and each is an individual with different needs.

It was found that patients who were waiting to see a pain clinic consultant actually needed help that could be delivered in other ways. For example, they were feeling isolated, were looking for new treatment developments or had benefits queries.

Literature suggested that support groups could provide the basis for people with chronic pain to come together and share their experiences and concerns. Initially led by the pain team psychologist, the monthly meeting support group became so popular that a new venue had to be found to accommodate members. Gradually they have set up their own committee and need less direction.

The drop-in clinic was set up to address the problem patients had getting help between consultant appointments.

As nothing like this exists elsewhere for chronic pain care, a framework was created in consultation with the pain team and members of the support group. It was first piloted for a year, the results of which are being processed.

One user says: "You are given back your life, you are helped and encouraged to manage your pain better, and for me, most importantly you no longer feel isolated and thrown on the scrapheap.

"The support group helps you keep your head above water and the addition of the drop-in centre makes it harder for depression to raise its ugly head."

Saucepans/Sexual Health Innovative Education for Learning Disabilities

Saucepans is a multi-disciplinary, community-based child and adolescent mental health service, set up to meet the needs of children and young people in Southampton who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

It has recently run an innovative project called 'Project Honour - Cultural Fusion' to encourage wider understanding of cultural backgrounds through film and the media.

Work on the project began in January 2008, with a meeting of a group of community engagement police officers, the city safety team, youth volunteering action groups, film-makers, arts-providers, community youth workers and groups of young people.

They wanted to increase the participation of under-represented groups of young people, to improve the mental health of young people, provide safety after school, to make a positive contribution to the community through art and media, and to provide training, skills and bursary across the city.

The project began a month later, with training provided over a 28-week period at various venues in Southampton, after school or college and in school or college mid-term breaks.

Fifty young people took part in Project Honour Cultural Fusion. They were identified by the Saucepans Mental Health Team as being either at risk for offending or exclusion, had mental health issues, were not in education or training or were in some way disadvantaged.

Students between 13-19 years old took part in five separate projects around the city, with a minimum of ten in each group. They were trained in still photography, marketing, event management and film-making.

The project culminated in students producing five short films, which will be exhibited at various venues, including the project's launch at a local cinema.

One participant, Darwesh, commented: "My community is multi-social and we have people from different backgrounds and I am happy to live in this community."

Another, Sadiyo, said: "What I like about the project is that everyone is equal, everyone is heard."