Understanding Local Communities
Sub-Topic 2
Skills
Below are the skills in this Sub-Topic:
- I am able to identify community services which may be accessible for service users/patients to support their individual plans.
- I can work with service users and patients to identify potential barriers for accessing services or opportunities to share resources.
Advanced Skills
These skills are designed to assist with career, role and personal development. These should be considered once you are confident in the relevant skills above.
- I will Identifying potential opportunities to connect local services, community groups, with each other.
- I will look for opportunities to work with other agencies and support teams to avoid unnecessary repeat assessments or referrals.
Overview
There are 32 boroughs and the City of London which make up the London area accommodating over 9 million people. In the last 10+ years the population of London has increased faster than the rest of England. London overall is 15 times more dense than the rest of England with 40% of Londoners identifying themselves as from the black and ethnic communities and 37% were not born in the UK.
Within each borough are a large number of different communities based on different characteristics, geographical similarities, cultural background, religious background, homelessness, sexual orientation, common interests etc. Within each community there may be services, groups or information which a service user/patient may be able to access to support their treatment and recovery and remain well following ill health.
Understanding how to work with local communities, access their services/groups and working with community leaders to engage the local population will be part of a community worker’s role. Part of your role may also include identifying gaps in service delivery and assist a local community to develop and provide a service.
The next slides covers the importance of understanding cultural competence when working in local communities and how people respond to what is available locally.
Why is this importantWhy is this important
As someone who will spend a lot of contact hours with a patient/service user, you will begin to develop an understanding for the environment which surrounds them, their likes and dislikes, how they communicate, think etc as well as what they wish to access to support their treatment and recovery. Some service users/patients may have a distrust of services, statutory organisations or people who work within health and social care. They may often rely therefore, upon community support and guidance.
Many community groups rely on the good will of their local residents or people who access their services and buy their goods. As community groups they may be self funded or have limited access to resources. Helping organisations/groups engage and network assists in the sustainability of a local facility or service.
Skills ReviewSkills Review
Having completed this sub-topic I will understand the importance of these skills.
- I am able to identify community services which may be accessible for service users/patients to support their individual plans.
- I can work with service users and patients to identify potential barriers for accessing services or opportunities to share resources.