Who Cares - the Local Involvement Network (LINk) for North Lincs

 ‘A stronger and louder voice for people in influencing the design and delivery health and social care services’  

 

Voluntary Action North Lincolnshire is pleased to announce that we have won the contract to act as Host for the LINk.   

LINks are being established over England from April 08 with the aim of increasing the involvement of communities in shaping the way that health and social care services operate. They are rooted in the new Local Government and Patient and Public Involvement in Health Act, which is legislation setting out the role for Local Authorities as Place Shapers and Community Leaders.

 Links are independent networks of local people and groups, who will monitor and review services by seeking views of people. This will be done through engaging communities and voluntary and community groups who know whether those services are fit for purpose or whether they can be improved, from a user perspective.

LINks will also have the power to visit and inspect health and social care premises. They will produce reports of their findings (with the Host's support) which have to be responded to by providers within a given timeframe.One of VANL’s first jobs as Host will be to ensure that as wide a range of people and voluntary groups are involved as possible and we will endeavour to achieve this by providing a very broad range of ways that people can get involved; because we recognise that attending a meeting or event, or filling in a questionnaire is not right for everyone. Some of the ways we will endeavour to engage people will be as follows: 
  • Working with existing networks like user and carer groups, patients groups etc.
  • Setting up focus groups as necessary on areas of interest or in geographical areas
  • Establishing a LINk website with comments page
  • Carrying out/ or using existing research in communities
  • Creating a LINk information sheet to be distributed in a variety of ways
  • Supporting people to ‘dip in and out’ of LINk activities as they see fit.

We will be paying particular attention to ensuring that everyone with an interest in the LINk has an opportunity to get involved including those who may experience more difficulties in getting involved than others. 

 

If you are interested in health and social care services and you are interested in being kept informed about the LINk, or would like to get involved please call VANL and ask for Greg Gough, the Who Cares Co-ordinator, or for more information, see the Who Cares website