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Local Involvement Networks

What is the LINk?

The Local Involvement Network (LINks) is a voluntary group set up to tackle issues faced by service users of public health and social care services. The LINk is made up of local volunteers from across the county who use health and social care services and represent other service users in their area. The LINk is independent and the people who volunteer for the LINk contribute their time because they are interested in making changes and improvements to the health and social care services in the County of Nottinghamshire.

The LINk comprises an executive Board that is responsible for strategic decisions and a communications working group, which works to promote the LINk and produce updates for the public. In addition the LINk has several working groups that look at the issues received from the public and make recommendations to the Executive Board.

The LINk has the power to ‘enter and view’ services if they receive reports from the public about a particular service or issue. If the LINk conducts an ‘enter and view’ they will send an authorised representative who is trained to assess the service and report back on any findings. The LINk will then make recommendations to service managers, commissioners and the local authority as appropriate.

What does the LINk do?

LINk is here to represent your views to the people who make decisions on all health and social care services that are paid for with public money.

The LINk does NOT deal with children’s services but can look at children’s hospital wards. The LINk deals with issues that affect groups of people from a particular geographic area such as Gedling or Newark, in addition to groups of interest such as Minority Communities or OAPs for example. The LINk does NOT deal with individual complaints.

Why does the LINk exist?

The LINk exists to give patients a say in how their health and social care services are planned and managed. It allows people to feedback on their experiences and ensures that health and social care services are effective and adequate to meet the needs of local patients and service users. LINk provides a stronger local voice for all communities in Nottinghamshire.

The Carers Federation has been appointed to run Nottinghamshire and Nottingham’s Local Involvement Networks (LINks). If you would like to join the LINk please email s.neal@carersfederation.co.uk This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or phone 0115 9754647.

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