That's interesting that the NTA used that term Pete - I didn't know that!

Re the research influence issue:  sorry, I should have made it clear that I was talking about one-off studies, with little engagement with the target population and service planners, commissioners and providers.  And even when there is, as you say, change is long-term.

Your last paragraph adds another crucial dimension to the discussion!

Jane

Professor Jane Fountain
Research consultant
Emeritus Professor, University of Central Lancashire

tel:  +44  (0)20 8671 6723
________________________________________
From: Health of minority ethnic communities in the UK [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Pete Hoey [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 30 January 2014 15:26
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Thread on 'accessing difficult to reach communities'

Hi Jane/all.

In substance misuse, the NTA used the term 'underserved' and may still.

I would add that the research programme that began in 2001 in this area did cause a big long term leap in service take -up. Significant engagement services which used tactics like ambassadors or inter actors - followed by recruitment of people with experience of receiving services from communities. As one would expect - this took years to achieve but created sustained changes in services and take-up.  However - these changes were not directly linked to the research - rather, they were in the mix with all sorts of service development.

Whether in the present setting of contracting spend the term 'hard to reach' might mean 'hard to reach with increasingly limited resources and imagination' is relevant, I think. Imagination and creativity may be seen as extras which inflate unit costs.  The relatively passive term of underserved may actually help those interested in service equality.  To be useful in supporting this, research may need to use language which makes equality core business. Although weak and perhaps problematic - undeserved does this.

Regards
Pete

Commissioning and Health Partnerships, Children and Adults Directorate, 3rd Floor, Kirkgate Buildings, Byrom Street,
Huddersfield, HD1 1BY
07966459243

--Original message---
Sender: "Health of minority ethnic communities in the UK" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent time: 30 Jan 2014 14:40
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Thread on 'accessing difficult to reach communities'

A really interesting discussion!  To address the points made, briefly:

I don’t have the magic answer for another description to replace
‘hard/difficult to access/reach’ that will stand the test of time, but do
prefer ‘marginalised’ (more than ‘vulnerable’), as to me, 'marginalised'
indicates a broader spectrum of disadvantage than lack of health and social
service access, and does not put the ‘blame’ on a marginalised individual
nor a service.  ‘Easy to ignore/overlook’ doesn’t work for me and I think
doesn’t adequately describe the people we are talking about.

‘Underserved’ is good when talking about services– but I too read this as
‘undeserved’, so probably not!

I totally agree that the word ‘community’ is used unthinkingly, not least
because it suggests that everyone thus labelled is the same and identifies
100% with whatever the ‘community’ is labelled as, regardless of age,
ethnicity, sexuality, language, etc etc.

Language is obviously key, for both service providers and researchers, and
much research shows that this and the distrust in confidentiality, are
major barriers lack of some members of some minority ethnic populations’
participation in services and research. I totally agree that the issue here
for services is all the elements that comprise cultural
sensitivity/competence.

Proper engagement with the target population (and not just the
professionals within it/working with members of it) is essential when
considering services and research.  This engagement should take place at a
local level.  Researchers should be extremely careful about raising
expectations that their work will lead to change for the better, though.
How many of us researchers can point to a piece of our own (or anyone
else’s) research that directly affected policy/service provision??


Jane

Professor Jane Fountain Research consultant Emeritus Professor,  University
of Central Lancashire   tel:  +44  (0)20 8671 6723