The Art of Communication: - Derry City Council

1.1 Background to the ResearchAs part of fulfilling the duties associated with core functions of Environmental Health suchas Health and Safety and Food Control, EHOs come into contact with businesses owned byethnic minorities. Such businesses are often referred to in the literature as Ethnic MinorityBusinesses (EMBs). The Chinese Welfare Association found in 2005 that approximately80 – 90% of Chinese people living in Northern Ireland are concentrated in the cateringindustry (Chinese Welfare Association, 2005). It is now common to find Chinese cateringpremises throughout many cities and towns in Northern Ireland. Therefore, an example of aubiquitous type of EMB that EHOs have ongoing contact with is Chinese catering premises(restaurants and takeaways). Communication is a shared process between EHOs andChinese caterers as part of the regulatory process, therefore, it is important that all thoseinvolved in, or affected, by this process consider their respective roles, obligations, rights andresponsibilities.Through this research Derry City Council’s Environmental Health Department andCommunity Relations Section has worked in partnership with Chinese employers across thewestern region, Sai Pak, the Chinese Welfare Association, Strabane District Council, OmaghDistrict Council, Fermanagh District Council and Limavady Borough Council to investigatethe dynamics of this communication.1.2 Research Question and AimThe research question at the heart of this investigation was:How can Environmental Health departments in Northern Irelandcommunicate effectively with Chinese employers who operate withinthe catering sector?In view of the central need for effective shared communications between EnvironmentalHealth Officers and Chinese employers operating within the catering sector (with regard tofacilitating key outcomes for each party), the aim of this investigation was:To improve the quality of information available to the five westernEnvironmental Health departments to help inform an improvement inthe effectiveness of shared communication between EHOs and Chineseemployers operating across this region.6The Art of Communication: A landscape shared between regulator and ethnic employer