COMMUNITY PROFILING

We have experience of producing comprehensive community profiles for community planning and of undertaking community consultation exercises. Recent examples include:

Project: East Sussex in Figures – data definition for Community Data Observatory
Client: East Sussex County Council
Dates: March, October 2004

This work was carried out in two phases for East Sussex Council in support of their bid to set up a Community Data Observatory to be accessible to a range of partners and to the general public and to serve as a basis inter alia for monitoring progress on community plans at county and borough/district levels.

Care Equation was engaged initially in the Feasibility Study stage, to identify outline data requirements based on the content of the Community Plans and comparison with other local and national initiatives of this type, making recommendations regarding the thematic structuring of the dataset and the specific variables/indicators within this framework which it might be appropriate for the Observatory to hold.

The second stage involved building on the Feasibility Study to refine the details of the indicator requirements – in terms on the one hand of what was available, appropriate and updatable (with sourcing details), and on the other the perceived preferences and priorities of a range of stakeholders. We also explored preferences regarding the format and mode of presentation of the data. This then formed the basis for the detailed specification of requirements subsequently presented to potential suppliers.

Client feedback:
We have found Care Equation to offer a very professional and efficient service and would look to employ their services again for similar assignments.

Project: West Sussex Community Profiles
Client: West Sussex County Council and District Councils
Dates: 2002, 2003

Undertaken in partnership with Health and Social Policy Research Centre (HSPRC), University of Brighton

The Local Government Act 2000 requires local authorities to develop community plans through Local Strategic Partnerships. LSPs across West Sussex identified a need for shared information or "evidence" on which to base joint decision making and prioritise initiatives within districts and across the councils.

The team developed, firstly, an electronic Database in Excel format, which provided an updatable framework for structuring and collating local data across a range of topics pertinent to community profiling. The Database contained a major compilation of recent statistics against ten topic areas – Demography, Deprivation, The Local Economy, Education, Housing, Social Care, Health, Crime & Community Safety, The Environment, and Lifestyle & Leisure. The data was organised by appropriate geographical units from national level down to postcode areas, and supported by an index with detailed explanatory information (metadata). Secondly, for each district analysis and interpretation of this information was brought together in a written commentary, identifying key local themes and emerging issues of relevance to the community planning agenda.

The Community Profiles database can be updated on a regular basis and are currently available on CD and on the County Council intranet.

Client feedback:

- Most interesting and valuable work that the council has commissioned
- Independent expertise to interpret the data was the most important aspect of the commission
- Helped refocus the priorities of the LSP

See also Training and Workshops

Project: Wealden Community Planning Consultation
Client: Wealden District Council
Dates: 2002

Undertaken in partnership with Health and Social Policy Research Centre (HSPRC), University of Brighton

This project was the result of an innovative approach by Wealden District Council to the statutory requirement for local authorities to produce a community strategy aimed at promoting and improving the well-being of their local communities. Following a consultation process with key local organisations and stakeholders which identified eight key "themes", the Council commissioned the production of a survey instrument to elicit views from a sample of the wider local community on priorities for action under the eight themes. Most innovatively, the decision was made by the District Council that this survey should be administered by its own elected members. Care Equation, together with the University of Brighton Health and Social Policy Research Centre, were commissioned to develop the survey instrument, train councillors in its administration, and analyse the results. The process was extremely effective, and resulted in a community strategy which was thoroughly "owned" by elected members and local people alike.

Client feedback:

Impressed by enthusiasm at nature of project and willingness to follow through

Project: Rother Community Profile
Client: Rother District Council
Dates: 2001-02

Undertaken in partnership with Health and Social Policy Research Centre (HSPRC), University of Brighton

The team developed an electronic Database in Excel format, which provided an updatable framework for structuring and collating local data across a range of topics pertinent to community profiling. The Database contained a major compilation of recent statistics against ten topic areas – Demography, Deprivation, The Local Economy, Education, Housing, Social are, Health, Crime & Community Safety, The Environment and Lifestyle & Leisure. The data was organised by appropriate geographical units from national level down to postcode areas, and supported by an index with detailed explanatory information (metadata). The database provided a model which was subsequently developed in more extensive work on community profiling in West Sussex