Frequently Asked Questions about Local Involvement Networks

 

 

What is a Local Involvement Network? (LINk)

LINks are independent networks made up of individuals and community groups, such as charities, faith groups, residents' associations and youth councils, who work together to improve local health and social care services.

When were LINks established?

LINks were established in April 2008.

What powers do LINks have?

LINks can help bring about changes to health services by listening to what you have to say and acting on it. LINks can:

• Request that health and social care commissioners provide information about their services and ensure that a response is received.
• Issue reports or make recommendations about a service and ensure a response is received from commissioners.
• Refer matters to the local council's overview and scrutiny committee.
• Enter the premises of certain services and view the care provided.

What do LINks do?

LINks have a number of responsibilities, including:

• Finding out what people think of their local health and social care services.
• Giving people a chance to suggest ideas to care professionals about improving services.
• Looking into specific issues of concern to the community.
• Making recommendations to the people who plan and run services.
• Asking for information about services.
• Carrying out visits, when necessary, to see if services are working well.
• Referring issues to the local council health overview and scrutiny committee if it seems that action is not being taken.

What services do LINks cover?

A LINk covers all health and social care services that are commissioned by the NHS and local authorities in an area. Only children's social services are excluded. LINks also cover independent providers of publicly funded services.

How are LINks run?

LINks are independent and not part of the government. They are run by the people who belong to them. LINks are funded by money from the local council, which employs an organisation to advise and support the LINk. This is called the host organisation. The individual LINk decides how it is run, how the money it has is spent and what priorities to concentrate on.

How do host organisations support LINks?

Host organisations provide support by telling people in the community about the LINk and what it is doing, and advising people about how they can get involved. Host organisations provide office support and help the LINk to develop systems. The host organisation also holds the LINk's budget and records what it does, as well as helping to find out local people's views on their LINk.

How does the local authority choose a host organisation?

To ensure the most appropriate host organisation is chosen, the local authority runs a procurement process. During a procurement process, each potential organisation is assessed on its relevant skills, experience and ability to provide support to the LINk.

How much funding do LINks receive?

The government has made £84million available to fund LINks between 2008 and 2011.

What is my LINk doing?

For regular updates, register your interest and request a Newsletter or view Work Programme

Can anyone enter and view health and social care services?

Only an authorised representative of a LINk can enter and view health and social care services. Providers have the right to refuse entry if they believe it will interrupt the smooth delivery of care or the privacy or dignity of a patient or service user.

Who can become an authorised representative?

You can only be an authorised representative if you have undergone a Criminal Records Bureau check and have a certificate to prove this.

Authorised representatives must also have certain qualities that allow them to carry out visits in an appropriate manner. These include being observant, patient, respectful and sensitive to people's feelings.

 

About LINks

Q Will the LINk investigate my complaint?

A. No the LINk is not a complaints service, however the LINk can signpost you to PALS who can investigate your complaint. (see link below) If there are lots of people contacting the LINk with similar complaints, the LINk could investigate the issue "why so many people are making similar complaints"

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) East Sussex Hospitals Trust

Health & Social Care Local Involvement Networks

Local Authority LINk Contacts

Help Build a Better Health & Social Care Service

The Local Involvement Networks (Duty of Services Providers to Allow Entry) Regulation 2008 

• View Regulation

Working with VCO's - National Voices Summary Report http://www.lx.nhs.uk/uploads.php?file=nationalvoicesvcslearningworkshopsummarylinkbranded.pdf

 

Comments received:

"I great difficulty in accessing a local dentist to carry out a root canal treatment. The PALS service was not as helpful as it could have been refusing to list those dentists who were available to carry out the treatment. In spite of intervention from my MP I received very weak assurances from the Chief executive at East Sussex Downs and Weald Primary Care Trust. The issue was acknowledged but I would be interested to know whether the appointment of further dentists able to offer this service has been achieved?"
19 March 2009 11:21:06

Sue Weiner, Hailsham