1. Rachel Sutton, a receptionist at Rutland House Vets, is learning British Sign Language to help deaf clients. Photo: Rutland House Vets
St Helens Veterinary Practice Signs Up To Support Deaf Pet Owners
5 months ago 
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CARING colleagues at a St Helens vets practice have been learning sign language to help provide the best possible service for clients as well as pets.
Rutland House Veterinary Hospital cares for a number of pets belonging to clients who are deaf, and the team has been working on ways to make the practice even more welcoming and inclusive.
As part of their efforts, Rutland House Vets teamed up with the Deafness Resource Centre in St Helens, which offers deaf awareness sessions to help improve communication and remove barriers.
Practice manager Janie Clare said that vets, veterinary nurses and receptionists had attended the session and gained a greater understanding of challenges faced by people with hearing loss – and the team is now looking at doing further disability awareness training.
Janie said: “We see such a diverse group of pet owners and we have a number of clients who are deaf or hard of hearing, so we did the training to help them more when they come into practice.
“The course aimed to raise awareness of the issues faced by deaf people in everyday life and to introduce people to different ways of communicating, including finger spelling and basic sign language. It went so well people have asked if we can do another one.
“It is important to be aware of what we can do to help as many people as possible and overcome any barriers they have when coming to the practice. The team is 100 per cent behind this and we have been looking at doing more disability awareness.”
Rachel Sutton has been a receptionist at Rutland House Vets in Abbotsfield Road for nine years and signed up to do a British Sign Language Level One course after taking part in the session.
The 26-week part-time course is being paid for by Rutland House Vets as part of Rachel’s professional development.
Rachel has previously achieved the British Veterinary Receptionist Association’s (BVRA) gold Accredited Receptionist award – recognition of the depth and breadth of her skills and knowledge in the role.
She said: “Learning British Sign Language is a different string to my bow. Rutland House has been really supportive, moving my shifts around so that I can do the course, which is wonderful.
“We see a lot of guide dogs and hearing dogs, so we do have quite a few clients who are deaf. As a receptionist, it is my job to help everybody, and having someone on reception who could possibly do some sign language might make it easier and a nicer experience for deaf people if they are struggling.”
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