Summary of proposals for developing the LINk in year 1 (April 08 to March 09)

INTRODUCTION

LINks are being established across the country to ensure that all users of health and social care services are able to influence and scrutinise what is provided by public, independent and voluntary sector providers.

The LINk, as described by the NHS National Centre for Involvement is:

• A network of local individuals, groups and organisations
• Covers all aspects of publicly-funded health and social care
• Offers flexible ‘participation’ – reflecting the nature and diversity of local communities
• Builds on existing networks and community activity
• Is independently funded and supported by a ‘host’ organisation appointed by the local authority for 3 years

Host: Keighley Voluntary Services, 135 Skipton Road, Keighley BD21 3AU, www.keighleyvs.org

Bradford district already has a rich diversity of voluntary and community organisations, networks, multi-agency partnerships, service user forums and so on.  The LINk with be created from these and other places where service users, community groups, focus groups and others gather to discuss services… and gaps will be filled where necessary. LINk membership will probably consist of an inner steering group, regular/active membership and specialist sub/task groups.

The LINk is not an organisation as such but it will have structures, protocols, procedures and responsibility for reporting on issues and findings and communicating its actions and views - to and from local people to service providers.  Members will have statutory powers to visit premises; ask commissioners for information; make reports, recommendations and receive a response; refer matters to the two Improvement Committees for Health and Social Care.

BUILDING BLOCKS

Building the LINk will be tackled in stages that are underpinned by an ethos of evolution, evaluation and learning.  It is the LINk who will ultimately make decisions about how it should operate and what it should do, but in the meantime staff and partners will lay the foundations and set up the necessary support and communication structures.

A team of four staff will be appointed to develop and support the LINk, build its membership, and ensure there are robust reporting procedures and strong partnerships with all stakeholders:

• Project Manager
• Communication & Information Officer
• Research & Development Officer
• Outreach & Development Officer

There may be opportunities to commission some additional work as the need arises once the LINk is under way.

Staff will be based primarily at Keighley Voluntary Services (KVS) but may have an outpost elsewhere in the district. They will be working closely with other organisations and partners to ensure there is no duplication, and that the LINk is an effective facilitating mechanism above all else.

1. April – September:  key priorities:

• Establish a small steering group to oversee initial operational matters
• Appoint staff team
• Start work on building the LINk’s policies, procedures and protocols
• Start building the membership of the LINk including volunteers
• Build relationships with existing networks, strategic structures, statutory and voluntary/community sector partners
• Identify some early work that could be undertaken
• Confirm the year one action plan
• Publicise the LINk and hold the first open meeting

2. September – March 09: projected outcomes:

• In the second 6 months the LINk will be starting to operate more formally, with membership growing and operational matters still evolving
• A substantive inner LINk (e.g. an executive) will drive the workplan
• Reporting to service providers will have started and reports created
• A communication strategy will have been agreed and implemented, to include a website, email networks and various forms of publicity
• Gaps in terms of community involvement will start to be addressed, to boost the LINk and its partners
• 1st public Annual Review meeting before the year end

3. Steering group members April 2008 (until the LINk is established)

Nick Farrar, Adult Services CBMDC

TPCT  - tbc

Phil Cutler, BACC

Mohammed Shabbir, Sharing Voices

Keith Nathan, Age Concern - tbc

A member of Healthnet -tbc

Isobel Scarborough, KVS/Airedale Trust Patient and Carers Forum

Caroline Schwaller, KVS

Initial enquiries:

Please contact Caroline Schwaller, Chief Executive, KVS (caroline@keighleyvs.org) until the Project Manager is appointed.