Gypsy and Traveller communities - guidance
Guidance sections provide a space for resources that help convert principles or policy into action. The resources are listed alphabetically by author/issuing body and then by date.
You might also like to refer to the policy and agencies and communities sections for further information on Gypsy and Traveller communities.
Some of the resources below are in PDF format - see how to access PDF files.
Department of Communities and Local Government (2012) Progress report by the ministerial working group on tackling inequalities experienced by Gypsies and Travellers
The progress report by the Ministerial working group on tackling inequalities experienced by Gypsies and Travellers contains 28 measures from across Government that will improve outcomes for Gypsies and Travellers across education, health, accommodation, employment and in the criminal justice system. The section on health highlights the key issues raised by a number of studies. It then sets out the actions to improve health outcomes which include the work being done through the Inclusion Health programme.
Department for Communities and Local Government (2012) Policy paper: planning policy for Traveller sites
This document sets out the Government’s planning policy for Traveller sites. It should be read in conjunction with the National Planning Policy Framework which can also be accessed from this page.
Department for Communities and Local Government (2007) Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs assessments: guidance
This guidance aims to provide advice on carrying out an assessment of the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers.
Department for Education (2010) Improving the outcomes for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils: final report
The overall aim of the study was to explore the issues faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils and to offer parents, schools and local authorities a range of possible methods for improving the outcomes for this group. This led to the development of the TARGET model (Traveller And Roma Gypsy Educational Tool)an evidence-based tool that can be used to help schools and policy makers analyse their current position and identify where effort should be placed to further improve all educational outcomes for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils. The report explains how the tool can be used.
Galway Traveller Movement (2009) Travellers health matters: a retrospective health impact assessment of low-grade traveller accommodation (PDF 741.35KB)
Commissioned by Galway Traveller Movement, this retrospective health impact assessment (HIA) looked at the health impacts of an existing site and examined the effects of living in poor accommodation on Travellerfs health and wellbeing. Towards the end of the research period the site was redeveloped enabling the researchers to examine the potential health impacts of the redevelopment. The value of the HIA is that it provides a systematic approach and "not only does it capture the lived experiences of Travellers, but it analyses these experiences against established public health research on the health effects of the built environment".
Mary Seacole Awards winner (2009) Developing the cultural competence of health professionals working with Gypsy Travellers (PDF 381KB)
Gill Francis, Health Inclusion Worker for Travellers and Gypsies, NHS City & Hackney Community Health Services won a Mary Seacole Award for this project which had three main objectives: to identify the questions and attitudes health professionals had regarding Gypsy Travellers; to develop an information booklet based on the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) of health professionals pertaining to the cultural identity and health needs of Gypsy Travellers; to develop the content for an on]line cultural competence programme with specific reference to Gypsy Travellers. Cultural competence within nursing practice is defined in the report as "an on-going process where individuals reflect on their own culture and seek to understand the culture of others in order to work effectively within the context of the individual patient and their family".
For details of the Mary Seacole Awards see Scholarships and awards.
National Voices (2009) Involvement of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in health and social care policy and practice (700.14KB)
This is a report from a one day workshop held by National Voices conjointly with the Irish Traveller Movement in Britain (ITMB) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in September 2009. The workshop explored good and bad examples of involvement from the experiences of these communities, the barriers to involving them and pointers to developing better ways of involving them. The report presents key messages and recommendations from the day.
NHS Health Scotland: Practice guidance - Gypsy/Travellers
This page within a section on Gypsies and Travellers provides guidance on how Gypsies and Travellers can access General Medical Services and recommendations on the use of the Patient Hand Held Record.
Primary Care Commissioning (2009) Primary care service framework: Gypsy and Traveller communities (PDF 145.3KB)
This primary care service framework (PCSF) has been developed by Primary Care Contracting to assist commissioners in ensuring that Gypsy and Traveller communities are able to access mainstream primary care. The framework can be used to assist primary care trusts (PCTs) to design new services or adapt existing ones to make them accessible.
Race Equality Foundation (2008) Better Health briefing 12: The health of Gypsies and Travellers in the UK (including 2012 update)
The health briefing papers from the Race Equality Foundation contain research evidence, good practice tips, resources and key messages for practice. This paper considers the health status of Gypsies and Travellers which is "much poorer than that of the general population, even when controlling for confounding factors such as variable socio-economic status and/or ethnicity". The briefing can be accessed from the 'Better Health briefings' section on this page. An update published in January 2012 is also available.
RCN Research Society events held at RCN Congress 2010: Improving cultural competence and equity in the provision of health care to the Gypsy/Traveller community
This workshop was held on 26 April 2010 as one of the events arranged by the RCN Research Society at Congress 2010. The workshop aimed to help participants understand the specific health inequalities and the barriers Gypsies and Travellers face in accessing and using health services appropriately and ghow nurses can become role models in challenging discrimination and providing culturally competent careh. One of the speakers at this event, Patrice van Cleemput has provided a reference list of useful articles and publications which can be found with the synopsis of this event.
Shelter (2008) Good practice guide: working with housed Gypsies and Travellers
Based on consultations with Gypsies and Travellers around the country, this provides guidance and good practice examples to help organisations improve their support services. The guide can be downloaded from this list of good practice guides produced by Shelter.
Shelter (2007) Good practice briefing: Gypsies and Travellers
The briefing provides an overview of the issues faced by Gypsy and Traveller communities in accessing housing and services.
Welsh Assembly Government: Gypsy Traveller good practice guides
These guides are intended to help local authorities in Wales when they are planning new sites or refurbishing sites for Gypsies and Travellers. They include information on health and safety requirements including fire safety, play areas, communal areas and site management.