Programme of Research

The BE4 Research project is funded for 18 months and is being developed across a series of inter-related modules.

1. Profiles of Black and Minority Ethnic Groups in Butetown, Grangetown and Riverside
   
2. Equity: Assessing the mental health and social care needs of Black and Minority Groups
   
3. Empowerment, mental health and social care promotion & outreach
4. Effectiveness:Establishing monitoring frameworks, and developing policy and practice
   
5. Efficiency: Documenting & disseminating project activities

Profiles of Black and Minority Ethnic Groups in Butetown, Grangetown & Riverside

The mental health and social care of Black and Minority Ethnic people in Cardiff lies at the heart of the project. Gathering, collating, and documenting information about the groups we target is fundamental to the success of this project. Activities in this module include:

• obtaining statistical information;
• reviewing secondary sources and publications;
  
• providing profiles of of areas as well as BME groups.
  

Equity: Assessing the mental health and social care needs of Black and Minority Groups

Health should be available to all and allocated according to individual need, irrespective of where someone lives, their ethnicity, gender, culture, religion, sexuality or physical disability. There is a need to foster equity in mental health and social care provision and this provision must be informed by a local needs assessment which reflects 'the needs of the population rather than based purely on the historical provision of services…(and) should include epidemiological estimates, a description of local services and the experiences and views of service users, carers and mental health professionals.' (Adult Mental Health Services for Wales, 2000).

Activities in this module include:

• compiling and documenting views of statutory and non statutory mental health service providers regarding the various forms of needs assessment currently available;
  
• conducting a review of national policy statement and related documentation
  
• the development of a shared language between health and social care providers and local black and ethnic minority communities by focusing on perceptions of care, health, and need;
• although playing a crucial role in developing the practice framework, measuring improvements to health and social care is beyond the remit of the project. Efforts will be made however, to determine areas in need of further development in order that funding for such research can be obtained without losing the momentum of the project.
  

Empowerment, mental health and social care promotion & outreach

Empowerment should be on all levels, with informed choice and documented need being central components in the development of outreach activities (presentations, seminars & events).

Activities in this module include:

• hosting information days and events;
  
• making presentations at seminars and conferences;
  
• working with staff of other projects and organisations who are engaged in researching similar areas;
  
• establishing listserv for BME health and social care issues;
  
• hosting BHM events 2002 and 2003;
  
• attending as well as hosting seminar series/ evening talks.
  

Effectiveness: Establishing monitoring frameworks, and developing policy and practice

Mental Health and social care services must be accountable for the quality of provision provided. In conducting a needs assessment, the aim will be to establish a baseline for planning to monitor mental health and social care inequalities that may exist for Black and minority ethnic people within Cardiff. Patterns and expression of health and their association with cultural and socio-economic characteristics and the role of ethnic experience in understanding access to care and health beliefs are key areas that will be embedded in the draft framework of practice to be developed with input by users, as well as service providers.

Activities in this module include:

• hosting a one day whole systems workshop (second half of 2003)
  

Efficiency: Documenting & disseminating project activities

The aim of this module is to bring together all the other modules and make all key findings as accessible as possible.

Activities in this module include:

• the development of this website to post project information, as well as information about other projects, relevant organisations and events;
  
• keep our funders, steering group members, partners, advisers, as well as University of Glamorgan abreast of the project's progress.