main content Further Information on Local Involvement Networks (LINKs)

What are LINks

LINks are the local community-based networks of organisations and individuals committed to increasing the influence of patients, users of social care services and the public in the planning and improvement of health and social care services. From April 1 2008, they will replace Patient Forums (PFs); they will differ from PFs in that they will be attached to an area, rather than to an individual NHS institution.

The roles of LINks will include:

• Promoting and supporting the involvement of people in the commissioning, provision and scrutiny of local health and social care services;
• Obtaining the views of people about their need for and experience of services;
• Enabling people to monitor and review the commissioning and provision of care services
• Raising the concerns of local people with those responsible for commissioning, providing, managing and scrutinising services.

LINKs will have the power to :

• Enter specific types of services and view the care provided
• Ask for information and get a response within a specific timescale
• Make recommendations and get a response within a specific timescale
• Refer matters to the local Scrutiny Committee and get a response
  

How will LINKs be organised

A LINk will be established within each area that is served by a local authority with responsibility for social services; there will be 150 LINks.
Each LINk will be made up of:

• volunteer ‘members’ – a person or group that makes a commitment to take part in LINks activities on a regular basis
• volunteer ‘participants’ – a person, group or organisation that wants to influence the work of LINks, even though they may not participate on a regular basis

Each LINk will be supported by a host organisation, contracted to provide support to the LINks for an initial period of three years.

The structures and ways of working LINks are flexible, broad and inclusive and may differ from area to area.

DH guidance suggests three models of the ways in which LINks might structure themselves and organise their work:

• Hub approach – with participants and members agreeing to the LINk core functions and electing or appointing a hub to implement governance arrangements and to ‘manage’ the work of the LINk
• Flexible structure – where the host organisation co-ordinates the work that comes out of periodic citizens’ meetings and there is no central hub of members. LINk participants and members take part in task groups that end when the task ends.
• Steering group model – with a cyclical approach to developing the work programme and to developing and learning from good practice, based on input from voluntary and community sector and other groups.

What is the role of the Host Organisation

Host organisations will be expected to:

• Undertake the initial set-up of the LINk;
• Work with LINk participants to establish the LINk’s arrangements for managing and deciding on its activities;
• Hold the finances of the LINk;
• Support the correspondence and communication activities of the LINk;
• Ensure data management and record-keeping of LINk information;
• Provide advice and support to the LINk;
• Support the LINk in developing strategic partnerships and effective working relationships with other organisations;
• Help the LINk to identify, develop and promote its priorities, work plan and activities;
• Build networks to support recruitment to the LINk;
• Provide an appropriate and non-discriminatory service;
• Operate within agreed contractual performance frameworks;
• Report back to the LA on its activities and finances on a six-monthly basis.

What is the role of the Local Authorities (LAs)

LAs will:

• procure the host organisations;
• performance manage host organisations against a contract

 Department of Health expects LAs to develop performance indicators for host organisations in conjunction with local people;

Department of Health suggests that the LA and the LINk develop a process of joint performance management;

LA departments and a LINk may agree to pool information or work together to gather the views of local people.

What is the role of the Scrutiny Committee

The Scrutiny Committee should review:

• contracting process, ensuring best value is achieved;
• how much money LAs are spending on LINks and value received for the funding available.

The Committee may also commission LINks to undertake work on their behalf e.g. to consult people on their views on issues that they plan to scrutinise.

The Scrutiny Committee will not have the role of challenging the tendering process or acting as an appeal authority when an organisation fails to win a contract.