In this post, our CEO Edirin Okoro shares his experience of working with the deafblind community and the impact of this both at a personal level and on how it has shaped the ethos of Vivacity Healthcare.
I remember vividly the first time I worked with deafblind clients. It quickly became obvious my previous care experience hadn’t fully prepared me for the creativity and patience that would be required to help them face their unique challenges.
But I also realised that working with this community would be an invaluable opportunity to deepen my understanding and delivery of person-centred care.
Photo by Janith Dimanka on Unsplash
Learning from clients
As with any client/ carer relationship, it was vital I built trust and ensured dignity was at the heart of the care I provided.
A significant challenge lay in ensuring our communication was accessible and that this would require me to understand and use new methods of communication.
I learned tactile sign language, gestures, and Braille so I could truly connect with my clients and employed assistive technology such as vibrating alarms and screen readers to help maintain a familiar routine.
Assisting my clients in navigating their living environment was essential. This required sharpening my observational skills and the provision of clear, consistent guidance to ensure their safety.
The insights I gained working with the deafblind community now inform every aspect of how we at Vivacity Healthcare train and support our care staff. It reinforced to me the importance of preserving dignity and fostering self-reliance and taught me that each person’s independence is an achievable goal with the right encouragement.
Our Ethos
Here’s how we guide our team at Vivacity Healthcare to deliver the exceptional, expert care our clients deserve:
- Be present: Minimise personal mobile phone use on shift. Give your full attention to clients – your presence speaks volumes.
- Respect culture and communication needs: Always ask before assuming and pay attention to preferences around touch, space, and interaction.
- Engage with empathy: For the deafblind, attentive observation is as important as listening. Watch for cues, and learn their language, whether that be tactile signing or other ways of connecting.
- Prioritise wellbeing: Support one another. Caring for vulnerable people is emotional work so take time to recharge and look out for your colleagues.
- Collaborate: Share knowledge, problem-solve together, and encourage open feedback. Many staff will have experience from living in and or working in different communities, so value that perspective.
- Keep learning: Stay curious about new training and developments in deafblind care and broader health practice.
Building Business Through Values
We believe excellence comes not just from meeting CQC standards, but from embedding integrity, inclusivity and innovation into everything we do. Our standards are more than tick boxes; they are the bedrock of meaningful care.
Our story is one of continuous learning, shaped by every person we support and every staff member who walks through our doors. As a company, we have discovered some of our most profound lessons and greatest sense of purpose through working alongside diverse communities.
Valuing Our Overseas Staff
Vivacity Healthcare would not be here without our team. Our colleagues have brought fresh perspectives, compassion, and determination. Those working with us often go above and beyond to master new techniques and approaches. Their commitment inspires us daily, and we actively support their growth.
A diverse team is a stronger team.
Looking Forward
Our work with diverse communities continues to transform us. It has made us more adaptable, taught us humility, and reminded us that care is about partnership and respect. As we strive to grow as an organisation, we know our purpose is realised not just in outcomes, but in every interaction along the way.
We are proud of our journey, grateful for our diverse team, and always committed to putting dignity and compassion at the centre of care.
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Edirin
Edirin Okoro is the CEO of Vivacity Healthcare. He has a Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care and is actively preparing for the Assessor qualification.
Prior to leading Vivacity Healthcare, he served as a Senior Support Worker, specialising in providing dedicated support to clients with multiple sensory loss and successfully founded and managed businesses in Nigeria before coming to the UK.
I truely enjoyed reading about the journey that has led to the vslues of your company.
Keep on that path, it is what is needed in the health and social care services.