Good Teams Start With Listening, Respect and Inclusion

Our ‘Good Teams Start With…’ series celebrates the teams whose values and daily actions help make Optalis a great place to work.

In conversation with Nighat Ellahi, Ethnic Minorities Development Worker, and Hardev Dhanjal, Activities Support Organiser for Community Lives, they both agreed it starts with dignity and respect, both for the people we support and the people we work alongside. 

Hardev shared, “We are fortunate enough to work in a team where we encourage and support each other. If a team member is struggling or experienced a bereavement, we all pull together. It is a caring environment.” This sense of mutual care and understanding reflects a deep respect for each other’s wellbeing. 

Nighat talked about creating a culture where people feel safe to speak up and be heard: “There is not a feeling that staff can’t speak up. We talk about issues freely and can be confident that they will be dealt with.” Respect in this context means listening without judgement and responding with integrity. 

Both Nighat and Hardev also reflected on how conversations about race, culture and inclusion take place across the team in an open and respectful way. Hardev noted that there is a genuine understanding and acceptance of difference: 

“We work in an environment surrounded by difference, that’s not the same as other workplaces, but it means as a team we are more open-minded and willing to accept people for who they are.” 

They value their multicultural team and commented that it better reflects the diversity of the people they support. This helps break down barriers and enriches the support they provide, as there is greater cultural understanding. 
Through care, openness, and genuine understanding, Nighat and Hardev show how valuing each person’s voice, culture, and experience builds stronger connections and 
richer support.