What are Local Involvement Networks (LINks)

Local Involvement Networks (LINks) have their foundations in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.  This requires each local authority to ensure that a network of local people is established in their areas to investigate the quality of health and social care services.

To ensure independence the local authorities must contract a Host organisation to oversee the development of the LINks. In North Lincolnshire the contract to be the Host was awarded to Voluntary Action North Lincolnshire (VANL). VANL must ensure that it complies with the terms of this contract in supporting the work of Who Cares, the LINk for North Lincolnshire, but the actions of Who Cares are totally independent.

The Who Cares members decide its structure, its policies and procedures and it is the members who decide on what health and adult social care issues will be prioritised and how they will be addressed.

What Can LINks Do?

LINks have three main functions.

• To consult with local people to identify their needs, expectations and experiences of health and social care services.
• To investigate the quality and effectiveness of health and adult social care services delivered locally.
• To report their findings to health and social care commissioners (the people who determine what services will be provided).

This gives people an enormous potential influence in the design and delivery of their health and adult social care.

LINks are given certain powers under law to carry out their role. These powers include:

• The power to request information from health and adult social care providers and commissioners and to receive a response within a specified time.
• The right to enter premises to view the delivery of local health and adult social care services.
• The commissioners must respond to LINk reports within a specified time.

Who Cares has received the full backing of many local health and social care providers and commissioners who are eager to fully help it with its role in improving services. It is envisaged that Who Cares will be able to fully carry out its role, with the full support and involvement of providers and commissioner, without having to resort to using its legal powers.