Calderdale LINk

Calderdale Local Involvement Network (LINk) is about making sure that as many people as possible can participate in shaping and influencing how health and social care services are planned, organised and delivered in Calderdale. It provides an independent setting where members of the public can have a say in the services they receive.

What is a Local Involvement Network ( LINk)?

LINks are networks of groups and individuals that have been set up to make sure that health and social care services are planned and delivered to meet the needs of the people that use them.

What’s special about a Local Involvement Network (LINk)?

A LINk will provide an opportunity for the whole community to say what they think about local services. LINks are supported by a Host organisation to help them develop and work. This means that any voluntary organisation, community group or member of the public can get involved with the LINk.

Calderdale Local Involvement Network (LINk) will:

… give everyone a chance to say what they think about local health and social care services
… what is going well and what isn’t so good
… give people a chance to check how care services are planned and run
… investigate issues of concern
… request information from service providers and commissioners
… visit and check health and social care service settings
… make reports and recommendations to service providers and commissioners
… feed back what people have said about services so things can be changed for the better

Calderdale LINk came into operation in September 2008

Its aim is to give everyone a stronger voice in how his or her health and social care services are designed and delivered. It is an independent body made up of individuals, groups and organisations. It will work in partnership and develop positive relationships with statutory and other agencies, but will also challenge them where this is needed.

Calderdale LINk is committed to ensuring that people will be able to have a stronger voice in how health and social care services are commissioned and delivered in our area.

It will aim to ensure that everyone has a voice and we will work particularly to support those groups that have been considered hard to reach or hard to hear.

Calderdale already has many vibrant community and special interest groups who are making their voices heard in health and social care. Calderdale LINk will not replace the networks which already exist. It will link people and groups together to make their voices stronger and it will help people whose voices have not been heard so far.

Local Involvement Networks were created by the Local Government and Public Involvment in Health Act 2007. This legislation gives LINk certain powers. These powers mean that Calderdale LINk can:

… Question commissioners and service providers and ask to receive a response within 20 days
… Refer issues to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Health and Social Care & get a response within 20 days
… Enter and view premises where publicly funded care is being provided

Updated downloads are now available.

 LINks leaflet (107)

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