Getting ready for LINks

Getting ready for LINks

Planning your Local Involvement Network

A Stronger Local Voice

New ways for people who use health and social care services to have a say in how they are planned and run. This includes new Local Involvement Networks – or LINks.

Key facts about LINks

• LINks will replace Patient Forums.
• The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health will close.
• There will be a LINk in every Local Authority area.

• LINks will be a network of people and organisations or groups.
• They will be able to represent the views and ideas of lots of different people.

• They will not take over from groups that work at the moment.
• They should be able to make it easier for groups to have their say about local services.

How will LINks be set up?

• Each local authority will get a grant from the Department of Health.
• Each local authority will use the money to pay a host organisation.
• The host will be responsible for setting up the LINk and giving practical support to keep it going. The host will be accountable to the LINk.

• The LINk will be independent from the local authority. Each LINk will decide how they want to get the work done

The Wider LINk Membership

• Local & Community of Interest
• Active LINk Membership
• Steering Group
• Specialist Sub Group
• Specialist Task Groups

Bradford

§ Bradford HealthNet

§ Cnet

§ Forums

§ Neighbourhoods & Interest

§ Community of Interest Working Group

§ ISO Group & Bison

Procurement Process

§ Bradford MDC will follow “long route”

§ Prior Information Notice Publish week ending 18th August

§ Pre Qualification Questionaire available from end of August

§ Info Meetings in September

§ Shortlisting for “host” October

§ Appointment of “host” early new year

Early Adopter Sites

§ 7 EAPs by Commission for Patient & Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH)

§ 2 EAPs by Healthcare Commission (Leeds/Bradford & South West)

§ BACC has been involved in this work since October 2006 with Healthcare Commission

LINk Jargon

§ LINk member is a person or group that makes a commitment to take part on a regular basis.

§ An individual LINk member can be an “expert by experience”

§ LINk participant is a person or group or organisation that wants to influence the bigger picture through the roles of the LINk even though they may not be in a position to participate on a regular basis.

More Jargon

§ LINk host is organisation contracted to provide support to the LINk

§ Host is accountable to LINk:

1. Members & Participants
2. Bradford MDC
3. Wider Community of Bradford
4. Secretary of State for Health

For more info…
See below for notice of the LINks event