developing a community profile:

GUIDELINES
Community Health Impact
Assessment

NOVEMBER 2004
 foreword

In April 2004, Belfast Healthy Cities produced two Community Health Profile’s, one
for Ballybeen, the other for four wards within the Ards Peninsula. These profiles were
one of the stages in the Community Health Impact Assessment pilot undertaken in
these two areas. Funding for these pilots and profiles was obtained under the
Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) Investing for
Healthier Communities Grants Programme.

The production of the profiles were recognised as a valuable source of information by 3

the statutory, voluntary and community organisations in these areas, and seen as
useful not only for the CHIA project, but also of use for other purposes. Following a
number of requests for advice on collating a community health profile, the DHSSPS
Investing for Healthier Communities Grants Programme agreed to provide additional
funding to produce this handbook.

The purpose of this handbook is to provide a framework which organisations or

groups can use to guide the production of a community health profile in their own
area.

The information contained within this handbook is not exhaustive but is based on the
experience of producing the profiles in the two CHIA pilot areas, Ballybeen and four
wards in the Ards Peninsula. The guidelines can be adapted to suit community need.
developing a community profile:
GUIDELINES
Community Health Impact
Assessment

Ruth Fleming Joan Devlin

 contents 1. Steps in developing a community
health profile
Page Community profiling is a useful method to assist in the process of identifying the
specific needs of an area, and can provide baseline information to help with target
1. Steps in developing a community health profile 5
setting. It is important therefore to establish a clear purpose for the profile before
2. Profile template 6 deciding what information should be collected which is relevant to the community
or project.
2.1 Demography 6
2.2 Health and health behaviour 7 A partnership approach should be taken in the planning and development of a
4 community health profile. The following steps may be used to guide this process: 5
2.3 Housing 9
2.4 Transport 10 • Set up a community steering group to oversee the development of the profile.
Membership should be inclusive of the voluntary, community, statutory sectors
2.5 Employment 11 working in the area, as well as local people living in the area where possible.
2.6 Environment 12 • Agree a template for the profile identifying clearly the areas under which
2.7 Crime 13 information will be collected.
• Source data from the following key areas:
2.8 Essential services 13
• NISRA/NINAS website
2.9 Education 14
• Statistics branch within Government departments (all Government will
2.10 Voluntary, community and private provision 16 have a statistics branch or research person)
2.11 Health and social services provision 17 • Health promotion unit within health trusts and boards
2.12 Leisure and recreation services 18 • Members of the community steering group should be involved in
sourcing additional local information/ surveys or contacts. It is also useful
to obtain local views/interpretation on statistics/information gathered for
the profile. This qualitative information provides an additional layer of
practical, local information, which statistics alone cannot convey.
• When statistics have been collated and interpreted by the person(s) compiling
the profile, as a precautionary measure it is helpful to check the interpretation is
accurate with the person providing the statistics.
• The community steering group should assist in the process of validating the
profile, identifying any gaps and adding local views and interpretation to the
developing a community profile:
GUIDELINES
Community Health Impact
Assessment

information gathered.
• Gain the necessary written consent for the use of tables taken from
websites/NISRA.
• Distribute the profile widely to all stakeholders involved in the process, including
organisations where information has been sourced, as well as interested parties.
 2. Profile Template

Within the two community health profiles produced by Belfast Healthy Cities, 2.2) Health and Health Behaviour
information was documented under the following headings: demography; health and
health behaviour; housing; transport; employment; environment; crime and essential Information Where to source this Area/level
information collected/available
services; education; voluntary, community and private provision; health and social
services provision; leisure and recreation services. These headings were chosen
Persons claiming Disability Social Security Agency/ DSD Collected by male/female/age
because a wide variety of factors have an impact on an individual’s health and the
Living Allowance (DLA) as a website ranges per electoral ward
overall health of the community, and therefore are relevant in the development of a proxy for disability www.dsdni.gov.uk/statistics- level.
6 holistic health profile. research/ 7
geographicaldata.asp
The following twelve tables provide examples of information which can be collected
for inclusion in a community health profile, the source of this information, and the Population by long-term NISRA (Census Output – Electoral Ward level; output
area/level at which it is available or collected. illness households with dependent level; local District Council;
children and households with Health and Social Service
limiting long-term illness Boards; Education and Library
The information recorded in this template is only a flavour of what could be collected table) Boards; Parliamentary
within a community health profile, and has been restricted to data which is readily www.nisra.gov.uk/census/Cen Constituency
available at a local level. sus2001Output/ KeyStatistics/
keystatrep.html
2.1) Demography
Standardised death rates Registrar General, NISRA District council and health
Information Where to source this Area/level (listed per condition/disease) www.nisra.gov.uk (general board level
information collected/available register office)

Age of the population; NISRA (Census Output – age Electoral Ward level; output Incidence of cancers NI cancer registry Electoral ward level, district
population by gender; structure table) level; local District Council; www.qub.ac.uk/nicr/ council level, and board level
household composition; www.nisra.gov.uk/census/Cen Health and Social Service
cultural diversity sus2001Output/ KeyStatistics/ Boards; Education and Library
keystatrep.html Boards; Parliamentary Dental health recorded as Individual schools, HSS Trusts Individual schools, HSS Trust
Constituency dmf rates (decayed, missing and Boards level and board level
(as census data is only and filled teeth)
collected every 10 years this is
a limitation to its relevance
over time) Immunisation – uptake rates Child Health System - Electoral ward level, health
of: Diphtheria, Tetanus and information can be obtained and social services trust level
Polio at 2nd birthday (as a via the health boards and board level
developing a community profile:
GUIDELINES
Community Health Impact
Assessment

Population density NISRA (Census Output – Electoral Ward level; output proxy for all primary
(number of persons per area usually resident population level; local District Council; vaccinations)
in hectares) table) Health and Social Service
www.nisra.gov.uk/census/Cen Boards; Education and Library
Immunisation – uptake of Child Health System - Electoral ward level, trust level
sus2001Output/ KeyStatistics/ Boards; Parliamentary
measles, mumps and rubella information can be obtained and board level
keystatrep.html Constituency
at 2nd birthday via the health boards

Low birth weight incidence Child Health System - Electoral ward level, trust level
in singleton term births information can be obtained and board level
via the health boards

Teenage pregnancies Child Health System - Electoral ward level, trust level
information can be obtained and board level
via the health boards
 2.2) Health and Health Behaviour (continued) 2.3) Housing

Information Where to source this Area/level Information Where to source this Area/level collected
information collected/available information

Breast feeding (rates at Child Health System - Electoral ward level, trust level Housing stress as an indicator Noble Deprivation Indicators Electoral ward level (based on
8 discharge from hospital) information can be obtained and board level of social disadvantage found on NISRA website 1984 ward boundaries) 9
via the health boards (Breast feeding rates at 7 www.nisra.gov.uk/whatsnew/d (figures up to 2001 only)
months are also collected ep/index.html
although inconsistencies
currently arise in accuracy
Percentage of households NISRA (Census Output – Electoral Ward level; output
between areas)
without central heating as a rooms, amenities, central level; local District Council;
proxy for fuel poverty heating and lowest floor level Health and Social Service
table) Boards; Education and Library
Many more statistics on health and health behaviour are available at a Northern Ireland www.nisra.gov.uk/census/Cen Boards; Parliamentary
level or in some case at a trust or health board level. sus2001Output/ KeyStatistics/ Constituency
keystatrep.html
These include figures on smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, physical activity, mental
health, sexual health, oral health, and food and nutrition. However the lack of Homelessness figures District Housing Plans/ District housing areas; District
information available at a local ward or output level makes it difficult to produce a profile Housing Executive council area
www.nihe.gov.uk
on a small geographic area.
Tenure – number of NISRA (Census Output Electoral Ward level; output
households which are owner –table) level; local District Council;
occupied or rented www.nisra.gov.uk/census/Cen Health and Social Service
sus2001Output/ KeyStatistics/ Boards; Education and Library
keystatrep.html Boards; Parliamentary
Constituency

Social housing build District Housing Plans/ District housing areas; District
programmes and social Housing Executive council area
housing stock www.nihe.gov.uk

Area plans (these provide Department of the Area plans available for each
developing a community profile:
GUIDELINES
Community Health Impact
Assessment

information on land use Environment, Planning district council area

proposals for each district Service
council) www.planningni.gov.uk

The community steering group could provide information on local concerns regarding
house prices, availability issues, and relevant local information.
 2.4) Transport 2.5) Employment

Information Where to source this Area/level collected Information Where to source this Area/level collected
information information

Car ownership (which has an NISRA (Census Output – Electoral Ward level; output Persons claiming job seekers DSD website Electoral ward level,
impact on access to services) Cars or Vans table) level; local District Council; allowance www.dsdni.gov.uk/statistics- information published on
www.nisra.gov.uk/census/Cen Health and Social Service research/ website twice a year
10 sus2001Output/KeyStatistics/ Boards; Education and Library geographicaldata.asp 11
keystatrep.html Boards; Parliamentary
Constituency Deprivation score by income Noble Deprivation Indicators Electoral ward level (based on
(score constructed using found on NISRA website 1984 ward boundaries)
Access to essential services Noble Deprivation Indicators Electoral ward level (based on counts of adults in families in www.nisra.gov.uk/whatsnew/d (figures up to 2001 only)
(*defined by Noble as access found on NISRA website 1984 ward boundaries) receipt of means tested ep/index.html
to a post office, GP surgery, www.nisra.gov.uk/whatsnew/ (figures up to 2001 only) benefits)
A&E hospitals, dentist, dep/index.html
optician, pharmacist, library, Economic activity (employed NISRA (Census Output) Electoral Ward level; output
museum and social security part/full time; self-employed; www.nisra.gov.uk/census/Cen level; local District Council;
office) unemployed; student), sus2001Output/ KeyStatistics/ Health and Social Service
and employment by keystatrep.html Boards; Education and Library
Mode of transport to work NISRA (Census Output) Electoral Ward level; output household (lone parent Boards; Parliamentary
www.nisra.gov.uk/census/Cen level; local District Council; households broken down by Constituency
sus2001Output/ KeyStatistics/ Health and Social Service gender)
keystatrep.html Boards; Education and Library
Boards; Parliamentary Economic inactivity – figures NISRA (Census Output) Electoral Ward level; output
Constituency are categorised for men and www.nisra.gov.uk/census/Cen level; local District Council;
women under the following: sus2001Output/ KeyStatistics/ Health and Social Service
Community transport – each Community Transport There are 18 community retired; student, looking after keystatrep.html Boards; Education and Library
operator should be able to Association transport operators in home/family; permanently Boards; Parliamentary
supply information on the www.communitytransport- Northern Ireland working in sick/disabled; and other Constituency
number of buses available, ni.com the following areas: Belfast;
figures on passengers, and Ards Peninsula; Armagh; Areas of employment – NISRA (Census Output) Electoral Ward level; output
area covered Coleraine; Cookstown; occupation and gender by www.nisra.gov.uk/census/Cen level; local District Council;
Craigavon/Banbridge; industry sus2001Output/ KeyStatistics/ Health and Social Service
Downpatrick; Dungannon; keystatrep.html Boards; Education and Library
East Fermanagh/South Boards; Parliamentary
developing a community profile:
GUIDELINES
Community Health Impact
Assessment

Tyrone; Foyle; Magherafelt; Constituency

Mid Tyrone; Newcastle;
North Antrim; Strabane, and
SW Fermanagh The community steering group should assist in gathering information on specific
employment issues and concerns in the area. The local job centre will provide
Public Transport –passenger Translink Towns and villages information on activities offered in the area. The following website will provide a link to
numbers, and bus service www.translink.co.uk the 35 job centre offices in Northern Ireland (www.jobcentreonline.com/).
provision

*The community steering group should be able to assist in listing the location of
‘essential services’ (see above for definition) and other services such as banks, and cash
points, which are present in the area.
 2.6) Environment 2.7) Crime

Information Where to source this Area/level collected Information Where to source this Area/level collected
information information

Air quality District councils Monitoring stations spread Number of domestic violence Police Service for Northern Results recorded per district
- links to all councils through throughout the country offences Ireland (PSNI) statistics command unit – provided on
the following website: branch (see also request
12 www.oultwood.com/localgov/ www.psni.police.uk) 13
northernireland.htm
Notifiable offences (e.g. PSNI statistics branch District command unit area,
Radiation (ionising; radon and Department of the Results recorded at district burglary, criminal damage, www.psni.police.uk/index/ ward level, and area covered
non-ionising Environment (DOE) website – council level sexual offences, fraud etc) statistics_branch.htm by each police station
Environment and heritage
service -
Number of women seeking Women’s Aid federation Numbers collected for each
www.ehsni.gov.uk/environme
help for domestic violence www.niwaf.org/ refuge centre
nt/
radiation/radiation.shtml.
Information also provided by
district councils. Information on localised policing surveys which have been performed can be obtained
from local District Policing Partnerships (www.districtpolicing.com/).
River quality DOE – Water Management Assessments completed on all
Unit rivers and results provided on
request 2.8) Essential Services

Information Where to source this Area/level collected

Bathing water quality DOE website – Environment 27 sites are monitored
information
and heritage service throughout NI – water quality
www.ehsni.gov.uk/environme is tested on 20 occasions
nt/ between June and mid- Number and type of Northern Ireland Fire Brigade Recorded per fire station
environment.shtml September - results are incidences attended by the HQ – Statistics Branch each month – available on
provided on request fire brigade www.nifb.org.uk/ request

Ambulance service provision Ambulance service head 4 divisional control centres in

Noise complaints District councils - links to all Ward level, district council
quarters Northern Ireland
councils through the area
www.niamb.co.uk/
following website:
developing a community profile:
GUIDELINES
Community Health Impact
Assessment

www.oultwood.com/localgov/
northernireland.htm Location of police stations PSNI website Northern Ireland.
and district command units. www.psni.police.uk/
Opening times for the public
Current provision in relation District councils - links to all Ward level, district council for each police station. Individual police station Each police station
to: civic amenity sites; councils through the area
recycling points; waste following website:
collection; parks and open www.oultwood.com/localgov/ Policing in partnership with Community Policing Unit N/A
space belonging to the northernireland.htm the community (in a number within district command units
council of areas inspectors employed
by the district council work in
partnership and performs
joint patrols with police
The community steering group should be able to highlight areas of concern in the area officers to tackle issues such
in relation to environmental issues and any issues relating to the provision of amenities as anti-social behaviour)
in the local area.
Number of road traffic PSNI statistics branch District command unit –
fatalities www.psni.police.uk/index/ figures are not available at
statistics_branch.htm ward level
 2.9) Education

Information Where to source this Area/level collected Library services available and The following website N/A
information usage of library services provides information on the
location and contact details
Population by range of NISRA (Census Output – Electoral Ward level; output for all the libraries in
qualifications qualifications and students level; local District Council; Northern Ireland, as well as
table) Health and Social Service information on life long
14 www.nisra.gov.uk/census/Cen Boards; Education and Library learning and links to 15
sus2001Output/ KeyStatistics/ Boards; Parliamentary eGovernment:
keystatrep.html Constituency www.ni-libraries.net/
Information re the usage of
library services can be
Destination of school leavers Department of Education Electoral ward level, school – obtained from the
(into higher, further (DENI) available on request appropriate Education and
education, or employment/ www.deni.gov.uk Library Board for the area
unemployment)

Uptake of free school meals NISRA, GIS Neighbourhood Electrical ward level and
statistics above
The community steering group should be able to provide information on local
www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/ concerns re provision of education services or access to these services.

Number of children with Education and Library Board Per school

special needs for the area

Current provision of further The following website address N/A

education courses being provides links to a wide range
delivered in the area of colleges, universities,
education sites, awarding
bodies, and educational
bodies
http://www.fento.org/nations_
regions/n_ireland.html

Independent providers of Workers Education N/A

adult education – provision of Association (WEA) – e.g.
developing a community profile:
GUIDELINES
Community Health Impact
Assessment

courses building communities;

essential skills; creative
learning and opportunities for
women learning
www.wea-ni.com
NICVA – e.g. management
development courses
www.nicva.org/
 2.10) Voluntary, Community and Private Provision 2.11) Health and Social Services Provision

Information Where to source this Area/level collected Information Where to source this Area/level collected
information information

Provision of unpaid health NISRA (Census Output Electoral Ward level; output Information on the location of All of this information is Provision in the whole of
care –health and provision of level; local District Council; GP surgeries and hospitals; available on the following Northern Ireland
unpaid care table) Health and Social Service role of the health boards, website:
16 www.nisra.gov.uk/census Boards; Education and Library health agencies e.g. action www.healthandcareni.co.uk/in 17
Census2001Output/KeyStatist Boards; Parliamentary cancer and health councils; dex.html
ics/keystatrep.html Constituency links to the DHSSPS; - it also provides links to
information on how to find a other relevant websites.
Nursing and residential home Health and Social Services Per nursing/residential home health service dentist;
provision –number of places Trust – community care unit information on pharmacies In addition, local health and
available and local health and social social care group (LHSCG)
care groups (LHSCG’s). primary care investment
Lone parents in employment NISRA (Census Output – Electoral Ward level; output plans often give more specific
lone parent households with level; local District Council; information on the service
dependent children table) Health and Social Service provision in their area.
www.nisra.gov.uk/census Boards; Education and Library
Census2001Output/KeyStatist Boards; Parliamentary Location of community Links to HSS trusts can be Links to 12 HSS trusts on this
ics/ Constituency services at a local health and found through the following website
social service trust (HSST) website:
area – e.g. services for adults, www.healthandcareni.co.uk/in
Number of childminders Health and Social Services Electoral ward level, trust and
children, mental health dex.html
versus the child population, Trusts board level
services and services for those
and overall re-school
with a disability.
provision

Voluntary provision of Some examples include: Sure N/A Number of hospital episodes NISRA – GIS neighbourhood Ward area and above
services for children start, Lifestart, Youth Action statistics
NI www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/

Voluntary provision of Some examples include: Age N/A Out of hours GP services www.asadoc.com – GP N/A
services for older people Concern - they have day cooperative covering County
centres throughout the Down, Armagh, Tyrone and
province. Fermanagh.
developing a community profile:
GUIDELINES
Community Health Impact
Assessment

Engage with Age – working www.dalriadadoc.org.uk – GP

in East Belfast; cooperative covering the
Help the Aged working Northern health and social
regionally. services board area.
Housing Associations provide www.ehssc.org/outofhours7.ht
supported housing for the m – provides information on
elderly. the doctor on call services in
the Eastern health and social
services board area
The community steering group should assist in collating a full list of
voluntary/community groups working in the local area as well as community
networks. Local concerns or issues relating to health and social care provision can be
obtained from the community steering group.
 2.12) Leisure and Recreation Services

Information Where to source this Area/level collected

information

Leisure, recreation and Local district council – links to District council

sporting services available all the district councils can be
through the district council found through the following
18 website:
www.oultwood.com/localgov/
northernireland.htm

A number of district councils

provide a full listing of
services on their website.

Tourist attractions in the area Local district council – links to District council
and visitors to these all the district councils can be
attractions – affects the local found through the following
economy. website:
www.oultwood.com/localgov/
Events attracting tourists northernireland.htm
organised by the district
council

Local views on the availability and access to leisure services in the area can be
obtained from the community steering group.
developing a community profile:
GUIDELINES
Community Health Impact
Assessment
 Belfast Healthy Cities
3rd Floor, Gordon House,
22-24 Lombard Street,
Belfast BT1 1RD

Tel: +44 028 9032 8811

Fax: +44 028 9032 8333
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.belfasthealthycities.com

This publication is available to download

from Belfast Healthy Cities’ website at
HYPERLINK
“http://www.belfasthealthycities.com/”
www.belfasthealthycities.com