What is a LINk?
In the past, people’s views on health care services were
collected through Community Health Councils (1980 – 2003), followed
by Patient and Public Involvement Forums (2003-2008). Both these
mechanisms excluded social care. LINks are new, innovative ways to
give everyone the chance to say how health and social care services
can be improved i.e. wider and more effective involvement.
Under the new Local Government and Public Involvement in Health
Act, local authorities with social services responsibilities have
had a duty since 1 April 2008 to contract a Host organisation to
set up a local LINk. Hosts are accountable to LINks for ensuring
that the support they provide is appropriate. From 1 April 2009,
the contracted Host organisation in Cheshire will support two LINks
– one for Cheshire East and one for Cheshire West and
Chester.
LINks are made up of individuals and community groups who work
together to improve local services. The job of a LINk is to find
out what people like and dislike about local services and work with
the people who plan and run them to help make them better. This may
involve talking directly to health or social care professionals
about a service that is not being offered or suggesting ways that
an existing service could be made better.
The Cheshire Local Involvement Network is inviting feedback on
health and social care in our county. The LINk is an independent
initiative set up to represent everybody in the community – so it’s
your voice and your chance to improve services across Cheshire.
Anybody can join the LINk and it’s free!
Cheshire LINk Board
In Cheshire a LINk Board will run the LINk by determining the
direction and governance of the LINk. For more information on being
nominated for election to the LINk Board or nominating and voting
for Board members please visit the Cheshire LINK Website.
Who has been appointed as Cheshire’s LINk Host?
The Carers Federation is
the Host for Cheshire and they have recruited a Cheshire LINk Support Team with the following
responsibilities:
- To support the LINk to do its work
- To let the community know that a LINk has been started
- To publicise the LINk, so everyone can hear about what the LINk
will do; Link events are publicised in the local press, libraries,
community centres etc.
- To encourage local groups, organisations and individuals to get
involved
- To hold the money for the LINk and be responsible for keeping
records of how the money is spent.
