Care Services Minister Phil Hope will see how the Barberry Centre in Birmingham puts dignity in care into action today when he visits it as part of a nationwide push to raise standards of care.

Phil Hope is in the West Midlands to promote the 'Dignity in Care campaign to ensure that people using care services are treated with dignity and respect at all times. He will visit the Barberry Centre in Birmingham to tour the mental health facilities and meet the staff who put dignity and respect at the very heart of what they do.

As part of his visit, the Minister is also asking for local nominations for 'The People's Award for Dignity in Care'. This new award has been created to enable the public in the West Midlands to recognise and thank those who go out of their way to provide an outstanding and personalised service and to highlight the remarkable work that they do. Nominations close on 6 March.

Anyone employed in the care profession in the West Midlands is eligible, from nurses and social workers, to hospital porters and nursing home employees, providing they have gone the extra mile to ensure dignity and respect in any area of health and social care. You can nominate at http://www.dignityincare.org.uk or by calling 0870 000 1100.

The Dignity in Care campaign aims to inspire and equip people to drive up care standards. Dignity Champions are volunteers who are committed to making a difference to the way people are cared for, and they include frontline staff, MPs and, most famously, Sir Michael Parkinson. The number of Dignity Champions across the country has risen to almost 5,000 - with almost 600 to date in the West Midlands alone. Care Services Minister Phil Hope will meet some of the Dignity Champions working at the Barberry Centre.

Dignity Ambassador Sir Michael Parkinson said:

"Most of us will at some point be in contact with care services - be that in our work, or as a service user, a carer or a relative or friend. I would encourage everyone to help drive up care standards, whether that be by reporting poor care if we see it, or if we witness someone going that extra mile we should take the time to show our appreciation.

"The People's Award for Dignity in Care is a great way to recognise the dedication of health and care staff to treating people with the dignity and respect they deserve."

Minister of State for Care Services, Phil Hope said:

"People in Birmingham and the West Midlands want and have a right to expect services with dignity and respect at their heart. The People's Award for Dignity in Care is a fantastic opportunity for us to celebrate those dedicated people raising standards of care all across the country. I urge anyone who has been in contact with care services to nominate someone who went that extra mile to ensure they were treated with dignity and respect."

The nominations for the award close on 6 March when ten regional finalists will be selected to go through to the final in July where the winner and runners up will meet Sir Michael Parkinson and Phil Hope, Minster for Care Services.