Berkshire East PCT ... Empowerment in Midlife
Slough Community Needs Assessment Health Activists 2004-2006
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Introduction
In 2004 Slough PCT became one of two national pilot sites, working with people in their midlife (aged 50-64) from the black and minority ethnic community, to provide opportunities for work, to influence services, improve health and address inequalities. The project was funded by NICE (formerly HDA) over an 18-month period and was based on the findings of research carried out by the Health Development Agency on midlife (HDA, 2003). The research highlighted that public services did not recognise this group's needs and preferences. The same report pointed to the receptiveness in this group to health improvement messages and the need to have a whole system approach. It also indicated that people in their midlife wished to be enabled to take forward actions in their own right. Working with people aged 50-65 was seen as crucial to reducing health inequalities and improving the gap in life expectancy, within the next ten years. The two pilot projects (Slough and Bristol) were set up specifically in areas with high minority ethnic populations.
Aims and objectives
Slough's collaborative project (statutory and voluntary sector) aimed to provide skills in community needs assessment, with an educational qualification. Individuals were to be trained, provided with attachments to local partnership boards and were to undertake needs assessment work on behalf of these boards in the local communities. This in turn would allow them to directly influence service providers. It would also allow them to demonstrate their own competency as providers for needs assessment work, and could lead directly to paid commissions with a potential for future employment opportunities.
Methods
10 health activists were to be trained in community needs assessment and carry out needs assessments commissioned by partners. The University of Reading was to carry out evaluation of the process and initial impact of the Community Needs Assessment-Mid life Health Activist Project in order to develop guidance and inform future programmes.
Outcomes
8 people have been trained as community needs assessment health activists at level two through Open College Network. The project was not successful in attracting any health activists from the Polish community.
A number of the trained health activists have been 'attached' to planning groups for the duration of the needs assessment for example, the Fire and Rescue service, Older People's Partnership Board with the remit to carry out specified and paid needs assessment. There is an aspiration to make their attachment more permanent.
Impact of the CNA module was assessed through a questionnaire measuring experience and confidence on the 7 dimensions using Likert scales and on average, although all students had some experience and confidence on all seven dimensions before starting the training, their scores increased in all dimensions after the training especially around personals skills and conflict resolution. The course has been highly valued by participants in terms of content, delivery and support provided. All respondents reported feeling confident to carry out the community needs assessment. Majority of the students found the practical element of the training (carrying out a small needs assessment) the most valuable part of the course. The CNA module has been embedded in the mainstream health activists' training programme.
Areas identified for further training were IT skills (looking for and presenting information), ethical implications of community needs assessments, further detailed data analysis and report writing. Attention was drawn to the need to emphasise links between previous and subsequent sessions. All the health activist training is accredited through the Open College Network and therefore is available to students in UK.
This training will open up opportunities for the health activists to take on NVQ level qualifications.
A variety of further training opportunities have been offered to the health activists for e.g. growing your own seeds, cervical screening and home fire risk assessment. Some of the health activists have gained varied levels of employment. 7 health activist are on the PCT payroll and will be offered work through the PCT (1 needs a work permit). PCT Local Development Plan and partner organisations are being pursued to ensure funding for the co-ordination of the work.
3 community needs assessments have been conducted with partners and routes for embedding the work are being explored within the PCT and at a national level. Despite the success of the project, the crucial need for appropriate investment of time and money has emerged repeatedly.
Attempts have been made to explore the possibility of affiliation with a regional centre for excellence on Health and Race.
The evaluation team plans to write a paper once the evaluation has been completed
Lessons learned are being shared both with local and national bodies.
March 2006
Contact - Jason.Rodwell@berkshire.nhs.uk or
Pauline Bunday on Tel. 01753 635229