Local Involvement Network

Get involved to influence the way local health and social care services are provided on Hillingdon's Local Improvement Network (LINk).

• Hillingdon LINk: www.hillingdonlink.org.uk »

What is a LINk?

A LINk is a community-based network of organisations and individuals committed to widening the influence of users of health and social care services in the planning, development and improvement process.

What does a LINk do?

LINks cover any health or social care service that is funded by the taxpayer, except those that apply to children. The main functions of LINks are to:

• give everyone the chance to say what they think about local health and social care, including what is working well and what needs improvement;
• give people the chance to check how services are planned and run;
• provide feedback on what people are saying.

Main activities:

The main activities of LINks are to:

• encourage and support people's involvement in the commissioning, provision and scrutiny of health and social care services;
• enable people to monitor and review the commissioning and provision of health and social care services;
• obtain people's views about their needs and experiences;
• make reports and recommendations about how services can be improved.

Powers available to a LINk:

LINks can:

• make reports and recommendations and get a reply within a set period of time;
• ask for information and get a reply within a set period of time (Freedom of Information Act requirements apply);
• go into some types of health and social care premises to see what they do (independent sector provided services excluded);
• refer issues to the local overview and scrutiny committee and get a response within a set period of time.

Role of the host organisation

The following are included within the role of the host organisation:

• help and support the LINk in its activities;
• manage the LINk budget;
• report back to the council on expenditure, activity and achievements of the host organisation and the LINk;
• provide advice and support to the LINk, including the setting up of governance arrangements and the resolution of disputes;
• ensure that the LINk enables representatives from all communities to have their say and get involved;
• assist with access to relevant information from the Department of Health, the NHS, the council, voluntary sector organisations, etc;
• enable the LINk to set a local agenda driven by the priorities and interests of local communities.

More information

If you have any comments about the role and activities of the LINk in Hillingdon and the support needed to make a difference, please email  gcollier@hillingdon.gov.uk.