Kent and Medway BME CDW Service

The Community Development Worker’s role is to work in line with the government DRE agenda (Delivering Race Equality) in order to achieve equality and tackle discrimination in mental health services for BME communities.

The CDWs will work to identify gaps in service provision, by engaging with the communities in order to understand their needs and wishes, which will be fed through recommendations to the SHA (Strategic Health Authority) meetings for implementation.

The aim is to enable greater understanding and ownership of the issues facing people of Black and minority ethnic (BME) communities, including gypsies and travellers, East European migrants, etc.

The CDW will work with the communities with regards to tackling stigma in relation to mental health issues and encourage them to seek help. They will work with the communities in order to improve confidence with regards to using mental health services as well as signposting them to relevant services, including therapies available, such as peer support services, psychotherapeutic counselling treatments, as well as pharmacological interventions that are culturally appropriate and effective.

Service type: Community support

Region: South East