Arden University Online Courseware
Module: Fostering Dignity and Respect
Lesson: Introduction to Fostering Dignity and Respect
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Introduction to Fostering Dignity and Respect
Lesson 1 Introduction to Fostering Dignity and Respect
The title of the module indicates its essence which is to explore how Health and Social Care
Practitioners (CPs) can cultivate the fostering of respect and dignity within the health and
social care sectors. This 30-credit module towards BA Honours Healthcare Management is
also valuable to students aiming to enter allied professions.
Activities will often be linked to journal articles which can be found in the e-li
ary. You are also
encouraged to research beyond the recommended texts to enhance your learning as well as to
satisfy the requirements of the assignment.
You are advised to explore some of the suggested readings below and to find out how to
access the digital li
ary as soon as possible.
Online Li
ary Activity
Go to the module portal and explore EBSCO and Ebook Central. In the search box type in:
‘ethics and social care’. Identify two or three items which you think sound interesting. Take a
note. You might find them useful later.
Module textbook
Barnes, M. et al XXXXXXXXXXEthics of Care: Critical Advances in international perspective; Bristol,
UK: Policy Press.
.
Further and Wider Reading
Cartwright, T XXXXXXXXXXSetting Priorities: Personal Values, Organizational Results. Greensboro,
N.C. Center for Creative Leadership
Fuller, R. W XXXXXXXXXXDignity for all: how to create a world without rankism. Williston, VT, USA:
Be
ett-Koehler.
XXXXXXXXXXKey concepts in nursing. Los Angeles: Sage.
Lesson 1 Module Overview
At the end of this session you will be able to:
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Recognize the overall aims and objectives of the module
Identify the structure of the module
State the overview of the content and specific topics covered in the module
Associate learning outcomes and module objectives
Identify the pedagogical approach adopted in this module
Aims and objectives (1.1)
If there is one single aim for this module, it is to enhance your understanding about the
meaning of caring in the context of ethical and moral principles, as stated in the introductory
section. Professional ethics is a cornerstone of person-centred care and a good understanding
of the ethical codes of behaviour is expected to enhance the relationship between the health
and social care professional and the service user.
In this module, you, the participant, are offered the space and opportunity to reflect on you
own personal attitudes and behaviours within health and social care settings. Practical tools
are offered to help you reflect on your conscious and unconscious patterns of behaviour. Such
tools are meant to assist you to identify your own values and to progress towards a
oade
and deeper style of ethical leadership, teamwork and person-centred care.
What do we mean by values?
The title of the module, Fostering Dignity and Respect, itself holds part of the answer.
Putting aside individual needs and preferences, most people value money, food, shelter,
certain services and items which have monetary or sentimental value or both. As will be seen
in subsequent lessons, the kinds of values which this module refers to are less tangible. They
efer to principles and codes of behaviour relating to ca
ying out professional services.
Frontline service providers are crucial in shaping the service user’s experience for better or fo
worse. When social care professionals adopt key ethical codes of behaviour towards one
another and towards service users, service provision is inevitably given a considerable boost.
Ultimately, fostering dignity and respect in the health and social care environments is meant to
enrich the experience and strengthen the working relationship between the practitioner and the
service-user.
How may this be accomplished?
People and life, in general, are hardly ever straightforward. Situations could potentiality turn out
to be unexpectedly tricky. Therefore, the purpose of this module is to:
Take a reality check: address realities prior to embarking on ideal practice
Reflect on your experiences (privately)
Share own ideas, experiences and reflections with other module participants
Learn from other module participants (adopt a receptive and interactive approach)
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Explore certain principles or values, which
ing about service upgrades
Give ideal key values - dignity and respect - considerable attention and discuss how these
may be directed, intelligently, towards self, colleagues and service-users
Frontline service providers are expected to meet several organisational demands, which do
change from time to time. Certain fundamental values and ethical principles are expected to
adapt in order to fully align with organisational changes arising from different care models, but
their very nature remains unchanged. For example, a health and social care professional is
expected to actively demonstrate compassion in the person-centred care context, but the
actual feeling of compassion has not really changed over the different care models.
Adopting an ethically-informed service is very important in terms of cultivating good working
elationships between providers and receivers of health and social care services.
What are Values?
Read Warne & McAndrew’s article about value:
Warne, A. and McAndrew, S XXXXXXXXXXValue. In: Mason-Whitehead, E. Key concepts in
nursing. Los Angeles, Calif.: Sage.
Describe in your own words (about 50 words) what the authors mean by values.
Intended Learning Outcomes
This module is shaped based on the learning outcomes published below. The learning
outcomes are statements of what you should have learnt by the time you complete this
module. To complete the module successfully, that is to pass it, you will need to
demonstrate that you have met all four learning outcomes. The final assessment task for the
module is designed to help you do this because the four Learning Outcomes and the Graduate
attributes are built into the assignment questions.
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Figure XXXXXXXXXXLearning Outcomes
These learning outcomes can be understood in the following ways:
Show that you understand how concepts such as freedom, rights and responsibilities apply
to your everyday practice.
Reflect on how important it is to communicate dignity and respect effectively to othe
people in your work setting by what you say, how you say it and how you behave.
Look at the personal beliefs and values that you
ing to your practice and increase you
awareness of how they influence your work, your competency-based learning and you
continuing professional development.
Critically consider how you can enhance the dignity and respect shown to others in you
workplace by raising awareness of such issues or changing your own behaviour. Along the
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same lines, consider the importance of potentially challenging systems, organisational
cultures and environmental factors, which appear to be inconsistent with the concepts of
dignity and respect.
Figure XXXXXXXXXXReflecting on your progress
How the module is structured (1.2)
The module comprises ten lessons. Below, the main aim of each lesson is outlined:
The first lesson provides you with useful information about the module and preliminary
information about concepts that will be covered.
Lesson 2 discusses the process of communication in health and social care and its
importance in communicating effectively.
Lesson 3 explores the role of personal values in shaping our thoughts and actions.
Lesson 4 explores the nature of human rights and their importance in professional practice.
Lesson 5 engages with the practical aspects of respectful conduct.
Lesson 6 focuses on the core ethical principles and their applicability in health and social
care practice.
Lesson 7 presents the most important ethical theories pertaining to health and social care.
Lesson 8 explores the intersection between ethics and human rights and, more specifically,
the way in which this intersection may influence professionalism.
Lesson 9 explores the ways in which ethical principles inform decision-making processes in
professional practice.
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And,
Lesson 10 expands on the way in which dignity and respect may reinforce effective
communication in health and social care. Themes associated with communication success
or communication failure are discussed, in this context. Furthermore, the role of leadership
and management styles in professional performance is, also, explored.
Module Structure:
Module overview
Basic principles of effective communication
Ethics: values and attitudes
Human rights and valuing people
Valuing others: assuming respectful conduct
Ethical principles
Ethical Theories
Ethics and Human Rights: Role, professional status, use and abuse of powe
Application of ethical principles and theories to decision-making
Effective communication and performance: responsibility, communication failure,
teamwork, leadership and management styles
Each lesson invites students to:
Discuss posts and blogs relating to the topics covered
Undertake various activities within each lesson
Reflect on their learning, and aim to link their understanding to co
esponding module
outcomes
Reflect on their progress, and aim to link their learning development to the graduate
attributes
Consider the relevance of each lesson to the module assignment
Content and Specific Themes (1.3)
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Figure XXXXXXXXXXDignity and Respect
The
oader scope of this module is to enable health and social care professionals to develop
an informed and insightful understanding of the centrality of the individual service-user,
especially when he or she is perceived as socially excluded. Module participants are
encouraged to consider the uniqueness and strengths of such ‘excluded’ individuals and
groups, in a respectful way, and identify how to communicate this in professional practice.
We will be examining several ideas, theoretical models and concepts, such as human rights,
values, attitudes, power, accountability and responsibility within the practice of health and
social care. A sound ethical and philosophical base is expected to act as a springboard from
which to consider ethical dilemmas, conflicts, contradictions, challenges and tensions.
The module explores how interpersonal communication skills may be developed and how
these could adequately respond to the diverse needs of service-users. You are encouraged to
explore how your own attitudes and beliefs may influence the care of service-users.
You will, certainly, have several opportunities throughout the module to critically reflect on
interpersonal exchanges within professional care settings. These critical reflections are, also,
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expected to inform your reading and associated activities in each