BLACK, ASIAN AND MINORITY ETHNIC HEALTH, SOCIAL CARE AND WELLBEING NEEDS ASSESSMENT, 2014
- Call for Evidence -
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO
We would like to co-produce a needs assessment with the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities in West Sussex. In order to do so we are asking for your help in two main ways:
· To identify the communities and key community representatives/individuals.
· To identify the significant issues/difficulties facing BAME communities, beyond what all people/communities in the county would face.
Based on what you tell us we will try to decide the best way to involve people in helping us to understand the issues that should be included in the needs assessment.
WHAT IS A NEEDS ASSESSMENT
As part of our role the Public Health Research Unit produces evidence about the health, social care, wellbeing and other related needs of people in West Sussex, which is used to inform service development and commissioning. As well as providing factual information, numbers, etc. we try to involve individuals, groups and communities (including voluntary groups) that might wish to use or comment on needs and services.
The work we do with you will also be used to inform many other Needs Assessments, all of which will have an impact on future services.
WHAT WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE IN THIS NEEDS ASSESSMENT
The issues for BAME communities are often considered within specific needs assessments, for example, those relating to physical or mental health and social care needs. On this occasion we would like to carry out a comprehensive assessment of all/any issues of concern to BAME communities.
We have highlighted what we know about some issues but would welcome comments on these as well as any issues you would like us to add. We are interested in the views of all communities – large or small - whether they are travellers, temporary seasonal migrant workers, recent migrants (including asylum seekers) or established communities. We are interested in questions about whether services respond to the specific health needs of particular communities, whether and how language might be a barrier to accessing services, whether older people in particular ethnic minorities feel isolated from services that could help them, etc.
We are hoping to analyse your response during September so we can begin to work on the needs in each local area.
WHAT INFORMATION HAVE WE PROVIDED
· Issues we think might be important to BAME communities – for you to comment on and add to.
· West Sussex Equalities Policy 2010
· Population information (Census 2011) about people in the main BAME communities around West Sussex.
· Questions we would like you to answer about the needs of the communities you know about or represent as well as information about you and your involvement in any community, etc.
· Current list of contacts we have sent this information to.
Please read through the background information provided and then respond to the questions in the separate document.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Robert Whitehead, at the West Sussex Public Health Research Unit, on 033022 25371, or by email at
ISSUES WE THINK MIGHT BE IMPORTANT TO BAME COMMUNITIES
There are a complex range of issues affecting the health and wellbeing of BAME communities and some of these we might not yet be aware of. Currently the areas of interest, as we understand them are:
Young Asylum seekers
Issues BAME/asylum seeking young people can face are around mental health (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, Anxiety, and Depression), Female Genital Mutilation, Substance Misuse (cannabis in the main), Sickle Cell Anaemia and HIV.
Children and Family support
Children and Family Centre Managers have highlighted a range of issues where more information would be useful. These include: language barriers, cultural differences in approaches to prevention (e.g. vaccinations), domestic abuse, child development, smoking and other lifestyles choices, access to support services, use of Primary Care (e.g. GPs), communities hidden from the census (not all nationalities are recorded) and changes in the nature/number of different ethnic minority populations.
Hate Crime and Prejudice
West Sussex takes hate crime very seriously. In 2011/12, 86% of reported Hate Crime was racially motivated (+1.4% religiously motivated) [1]. 76% of all hate-victims were males and predominantly aged 20-40 years. 79% of offenders were male and predominantly aged 15-30 years. 32% of racist crime took place in Crawley. Recent research suggests that victims of anti-Muslim hate and prejudice are often reluctant to share their experiences with the Police or another authority. In addition, the research suggests that veiled Muslim women, who can be seen as targets for those seeking to attack Islam, often suffer in silence[2].
Other research reports BAME groups feeling discrimination in the Healthcare system. This coincides with the NHS being one of the largest employers in the UK of people from BAME communities. Roughly 35% of medical staff and 11% of non-medical staff in the South East come from BAME groups, compared to being just 5% of the total workforce. It might be helpful to explore the root cause of these feelings of discrimination and if they differ from the experiences of ‘White British’ service users.
Residential cohesion and community
In the West Sussex Residents Survey, 2014, 65% of West Sussex respondents agreed that, locally, different peoples got on well; 11% disagreed. In LNIAs[3], 21% disagreed, compared to 9% in non-LNIAs. It might be helpful to explore this further.
Gypsies and Travellers
The real number of people in gypsy and traveller communities within West Sussex is hard to track. Establishing dialogue with community representatives to find out more might be helpful, including the availability of sites. Overall, gypsy and traveller communities have been found to experience social deprivation, poorer quality accommodation, uncertainty about where to live, lack of continuity in education, lower health literacy[4], difficulty accessing health and social care services.
Rural and Social Isolation
Rural isolation can be a problem, for instance there are only two buses a week to get into Petworth from Northchapel village, where many farms house migrant workers. Additionally, in Petworth the farm workers and residents of housing estates may suffer from social isolation as they may not be welcomed by traditional, long-term, residents.
International students
There are several communities of international students within West Sussex; particularly around Chichester College and Chichester University campuses. Engaging with these communities might be helpful.
Healthy lifestyles and Serious Health Conditions
In many ways the health needs of BAME groups are largely similar to the White British population. However, findings from an East Sussex Needs Assessment carried out in 2010, reported the lifestyle factors which are relatively more prevalent in BAME groups. They highlighted that:
· Alcohol intake was generally less in BAME groups
· Fruit and vegetable consumption was generally higher in BAME groups.
· Obesity was higher in Pakistani Men and Black Caribbean Women.
· BAME groups were less likely to meet the guidelines for physical activity.
In addition, there is evidence that smoking is more prevalent in Bangladeshi communities.
Cardio-vascular disease (CVD), Cancer, Mental illness, HIV, diabetes and long term disabilities have been found to affect some BAME groups in different ways to the population as a whole, some with greatly increased prevalence. In order to develop effective prevention and treatment services it might be helpful to understand how different BAME communities view serious health concerns and healthy lifestyles.
Language
Language difficulties can act as a barrier to accessing services and support as well as in engaging with preventative measures. Translation services and language classes can help and it would be useful to know if there are gaps in provision and how these might be filled.
Differences in the culture of healthcare
Initial scoping has revealed the difference in approaches to healthcare, particularly primary healthcare, in different communities. It has been suggested that, for example, some BAME communities would not choose to have their healthcare needs assessed/treated by a GP as within their culture they would go directly to a specialist at a hospital. It would be helpful to understand if this is the case and, if so, for which communities.
Social support
We are also hoping to better understand the needs of BAME groups or individuals who are attempting to regain or establish a foothold in society. These could include those who are rehabilitating from recent prison terms, those who are currently/recently homeless, or those who have had on going trouble with substance abuse or domestic abuse/neglect. Do they feel they have any additional needs or barriers due to their ethnicity?
WEST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL’S EQUALITY POLICY – 2010 AIMS TO:
· Show leadership and commitment in promoting equality and inclusion
· Know our diverse communities and understand their changing needs
· Promote equality, diversity and good practice and ensure that the County Council is recognised by other authorities and agencies as an exemplar of good/exceptional practice
· Ensure that the County Council meets statutory requirements
· Promote equality and diversity objectives through our procurement strategy
· Actively engage our diverse communities in decision making processes to improve the services
· Provide responsive services that meet the needs of our diverse communities and are accessible to all
· Have a workforce which reflects the diversity within our community where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
BACKGROUND POPULATION INFORMATION
According to the 2011 Census, West Sussex has a population of 806,892, of which 89,341 (11%) are recorded as coming from a minority ethnic group. The details of the various groups are shown below:
Ethnicity / Total Population in West Sussex 2011 Census / Percentage of Total Population in West Sussex 2011 CensusWhite: Other / 31,896 / 4.0%
Asian: Indian / 9,659 / 1.2%
Asian: Other / 8,133 / 1.0%
White: Irish / 5,979 / 0.7%
Asian: Pakistani / 5,236 / 0.6%
Black: African / 4,569 / 0.6%
Mixed: White and Asian / 4,269 / 0.5%
Asian: Chinese / 2,960 / 0.4%
Mixed: Other / 2,939 / 0.4%
Mixed: White & Black Caribbean / 2,886 / 0.4%
Asian: Bangladeshi / 2,346 / 0.3%
Mixed: White & Black African / 2,061 / 0.3%
Other: Any other ethnic group / 1,677 / 0.2%
Black Caribbean / 1,339 / 0.2%
Black: Other / 1,238 / 0.2%
Other: Arab / 1,081 / 0.1%
White: Gypsy or Irish Traveller / 1,073 / 0.1%
White: British / 717,551 / 88.9%
TOTAL / 806,892 / 100.0%
In the period between the 2001 and 2011 censuses the population in West Sussex increased by 53,378 people. With the exception of White Irish, every minority ethnic group saw a population increase over the ten year period.
Below is a map[5] which shows the location of BAME populations in the county at small area (LSOA[6]) level. In some instances the proportion of people in specific small BAME communities is above 40%, though these are few (the highest proportions are 53% and 69% BAME, both in Crawley). Each major urban area has some concentration of BAME populations, but most prominent are Bognor Regis, Worthing and Crawley.
As ever with Census data, the current picture may have changed over the past three years, and more recent figures are not available. For instance, it has been suggested that there has been a rise of seasonal migrant workers and Gypsies & Travellers in the Manhood peninsular.
ORGANISATIONS OR COMMUNITY GROUPS WE WILL BE CONTACTING:
Voluntary & Community Sector
1. Black and Minority Ethnic Community Services
2. Crawley Ethnic Minority Partnership (CEMP)
3. Crawley Kashmiri Women's Welfare Association
4. Sussex Ethnic Minority Support Agency (SEMSA)
5. Rivers of Women
6. Chinese Educational Development Project
7. Sussex Hungarian Society
8. Crawley Bangladeshi Welfare Association
9. Crawley Campaign Against Racism
10. Crawley Islamic Culture Centre (CICC)
11. Kerala Forum Worthing
12. Worthing Filipino Community
13. Worthing Indian Group
14. Asphaleia Action
15. Arun & Chichester Community Cohesion Group
16. Better Together Polish Association
17. CEMVO South East
18. Chagos Island Community Association (CICA)
19. Crawley Portuguese Association
20. Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group
21. Celtic and Irish Cultural Society (CICS)
22. Chagos Island Community Association (CICA)
23. Chagossian Elderly of West Sussex (Crawley)
24.Healthwatch
25. West Sussex CABs
26.West Sussex CVS/CVA
27. West Sussex VCS Chief Execs Group
28. Sussex Community Foundation
29. Friends Families and Travellers
30. STAG - Sussex Traveller Action Group
31. Sikh Community Centre Crawley
32. Soka Gakkai International – UK
33. Sri Lankan Muslim Welfare Association Crawley
34. Children in Care Councils
Religious organisations
1. Afro Caribbean Association (ACA)
2. Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK (Crawley)
3. Broadfield Christian Fellowship
4. Churches Together in Crawley
5. Crawley Interfaith Network
6. Crawley International Mela Association (CIMA)
7. Crawley Mosque
8. Gurjar Hindu Union (GHU)
9. Siri Guru Singh Sabha
Statutory Services
1.Police
2.Fire Service
4.Voluntary Sector Relationship Officers
5. Children and Family Centres
Strategic Partnership Forums
1.West Sussex Cooperative
2.Health and Wellbeing Cooperative
3. Health and Wellbeing Board & Business Planning Group
Commissioners
1.WSCC Health & Social Care Commissioners
2.Healthwatch Commissioner / JSNA
3. WSCC Public Health & Commissioning
4.CCG Commissioners – via CCG Engagement Officers
Statutory Sector Engagement Officers
1.Coastal CCG
2.Crawley CCG
3.Horsham & Mid Sx CCG
6.Adult Services Engagement & Consultation (BME Group)
Council commissioned / provided services
1.Chichester District Council and hub
2.Arun District Council and hub
3.Worthing Borough Council and hub
4.Adur District Council and hub
5.Horsham District Council and hub
6.Crawley Borough Council and hub
7.Mid Sx District Council and hub
8.West Sussex Local Assistance Network (LAN)
9. Environmental Health
Educational institutions
1. Chichester University (Black and Minority Officer)
2. Northbrook College