Profile

Jez Buffin

Principal Lecturer

School of Social Work

Harrington Building, HA124

+44 (0)1772 892780

JBuffin@uclan.ac.uk

Jez has a background in law and social work.  He qualified as a social worker in 1991. He has practiced in the fields of substance misuse, mental health, homelessness and learning disability. Since coming to the university in 2000 he has specialised in practice near research using participatory and community engagement methodolgies.

Since coming to the university in 2000, Jez has specialised in practice near research using participatory and community engagement methodolgies.  He has managed programmes of work with a range of so called 'hard to reach' communities including:

• Black and minoity ethnic groups
• Faith groups, including Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Bhuddist groups
• Refugees and asylum seekers
• Lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgendered groups
• Travellers
• Older people
• Offenders
• Mental health service users
• Substance misusers
• People with learning disabilities

Such programmes have taken place in a number of different domains including substance misuse, mental health, the prevention of violent extremism, regeneration and the reduction of health and social inequalities.

Jez also manages a network of seldom heard groups (SpeakOut) on behalf of the Care Quality Commission (see http://www.cqc.org.uk/aboutcqc/howwedoit/involvingpeoplewhouseservices/shapingcqc.cfm). 

Qualifications

Academic
MA (Module), Realist Evaluation, Leeds University, 2010
MA, Social Work, Lancaster University 1991
LLB, Law, Lancaster University, 1986

Professional
DMS , Diploma in Management Studies, Manchester Metropolitan University, 1996
CQSW, Certificate of Qualification in Social Work, Lancaster University, 1991

Membership of Professonal and Learned Bodies

Member of NICE Community Engagement Programme Development Group (2007-2008)
Chair of Young Persons Task Group, Manchester Drug Action Team (1998 - 2000)

Research

Jez has led on a number of practice near research projects using participatory and community engagement methodolgies to engage 'hard to reach' communities in research programmes in difficult or taboo subject areas.  Such programmes have included two large scale national community engagement programes on behalf of the the Department of Health, one in the filed of substance misuse and one as part of Delivering Race Equality in Mental Health Care. For further details please see :

http://www.nta.nhs.uk/uploads/1_south_asian_final.pdf
http://www.nta.nhs.uk/uploads/2_black_african_final.pdf
http://www.nta.nhs.uk/uploads/3_black_caribbean_final.pdf
http://www.nta.nhs.uk/uploads/4_kurdish_turkish_cypriot_turkish_final.pdf
http://www.nta.nhs.uk/uploads/5_chinese_vietnamese_final.pdf
DRE CE Full Report 2010

Publications

McDonald B and Buffin J (2010) Working with Hackney’s Muslim Communities:
Mapping and Needs Assessment. Hackney Borough Council, Community Safety Partnership

Shah AK, Heginbotham C, Fulford B, Buffin J, Newbigging. The effectiveness of raising awareness event of the Mental Capacity act among representatives of ethnic minority communities. Ethnicity and Inequalities in Health and Social Care. 2010; 3 (3): 44-48.

Buffin J, Syed A, Hicks J, Mirza I (2010) Experience matters: a practical resource for Black and minority ethnic older people who want to get more involved in policy and decision making, International School for Communities, Rights and Inclusion.

Buffin J, Ahmed N, Singh M (2009) Using a Community Engagement approach to ensure equality of access, experience and outcome from the IAPT programme in the North West of England

Buffin J, Mir Y, Mirza I, (2009) Khat: current views from the community around the UK – Findings from Community Engagement Forums, National Drugs and Race Equality Coalition

Buffin J and Mirza I (2009) OUTing Notts: A study into the substance misuse needs and experiences of LGBT people across Nottinghamshire, Safer Nottinghamshire Drug and Alcohol Action Team

Buffin, J, Shah, A, Syed, A (2009) Managing Better Mental Health Care for BME Elders, ISCRI

Fountain, J. Patel, K. Buffin, J. (2007) Community Engagement: The Centre for Ethnicity and Health Model.  In Domineg, D. Fountain, J. Schatz, E. Bröring, G (eds) Overcoming Barriers: Migration, marginalisation and access to health services.  Amsterdam, Amsterdam Oecumenisch Centrum (AOMC)/Correlation network for social inclusion and health

Carradice-Barker, M., Miah, J., Buffin J, (2006) Using Community Engagement to Increase the Uptake of health and Social Care Higher Education Courses by Young People in the North West of England The Centre for Ethnicity and Health

Buffin, J. Kramer, R. (2006) Connected Care Audit, Owton Ward: An Interim Report of the Connected Care Audit Conducted by Residents of Owton Ward The Centre for Ethnicity and Health

Buffin, J. (2005) A Consultation With Under-Represented and ‘Hard to Reach’ Groups About What the Core and Development Standards Mean to Them: A Report for the Healthcare Commission, The Centre for Ethnicity and Health

Patel, K. Buffin, J. Underwood, S. Khurana, J. McQuade, C. Brako, M. Keeling, P. Crawley, H. Fountain, J. (2004) Young Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Greater London: Vulnerability to Problematic Drug Use The Greater London Authority

Tyrer, D. Buffin, J. Prinjha, N. (2004) Promoting Race Equality in Drugs Services: A Report for Manchester Drug and Alcohol Action Team Manchester Drugs and Race Unit

Bashford, J.  Buffin, J.  Patel, K. (2003) Community Engagement, Report 2: The Findings The Centre for Ethnicity and Health

Dhillon, P. Bola, M. Prinjha, N. Buffin, J. Bashford, J. Fountain. J. Patel, K. (2002)
Drug information needs of diverse communities in Hertfordshire:  Phase 1. Hertfordshire Drug Action Team.

Sherlock, K. Choudary, M. Patel, K. Buffin, J. (1997) The Drugs Service Needs of South Asian Communities in Cheetham Hill, Manchester Lifeline, Manchester