Developing Local Involvement Networks Understanding Local Involvement Networks Brenda Cook Health Scrutiny Expert Adviser Dudley Stakeholder Event – 21 st November 2007

Developing Local Involvement Networks Understanding LINks An summary of the role of LINks in enabling local people to influence local health and social care services Background LINks Concept Relationships Implementation challenges Topics for discussion

Developing Local Involvement Networks Background Replace and develop current system of patient and public involvement in health Broaden the involvement agenda to cover social care Provide different powers and responsibilities Implementation from 1 April 2008 Opportunity to develop a local process

Developing Local Involvement Networks LINks – the concept Networks of local people and organisations Focus on health and social care Not just membership-based but networks of participants Based on local authority boundaries Statutory role with expected outputs and outcomes No national organisational model – local determination Supported by a ‘host’ commissioned by the local authority

Developing Local Involvement Networks LINks - powers Enter certain care premises to see what is happening and, where appropriate, talk to service users Ask for information and be provided with it within a specified time Make reports and recommendations Expect a reply within a specified time Refer issues to an Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) and receive a response

Developing Local Involvement Networks LINks – the outputs & outcomes Give people a chance to comment on local services Give people a chance to check how services are planned and run Feedback what people have said about services to influence service improvement Provide information to systems that scrutinise and regulate care services

Developing Local Involvement Networks LINks –participation LINk Carers Network Neighbourhood renewal network Youth Council Patients Transport Groups Foundation Trust Governors Tenants Groups Local business groups Patient Groups Older People’s Forum Faith Groups Support Groups for Specific Service Users Individuals Minority Ethnic Groups Local Strategic Partnership Individuals

Developing Local Involvement Networks LINks – the challenges Confusion – what does a LINk look like? Concern – what will LINks achieve? Risk – of single issue focus Cost – time and resources? Where is the national overview? Compromise objectivity? Opportunity – to be creative

Developing Local Involvement Networks LINks – the challenges Is a LINk proactive or reactive? Or both? How is the network accountable? And who to? What are the governance arrangements? What about their role in relation to independent providers? Who provides leadership?

Developing Local Involvement Networks Role of the Host to support the LINk in its activities to undertake the initial set up of the LINk, building on work already done by the local authority work with the LINk participants to set up arrangements for identifying and managing its activities hold the finances of the LINk facilitate administration, data management, correspondence and communication provide advice and support

Developing Local Involvement Networks LINks – testing the concept Early adopter sites and Healthcare Commission projects Pilot models Sharing the learning – websites, reports and visits Relationship with health and social care services Outcomes for patients and service users

Developing Local Involvement Networks LINk Membership open, dip in and out, empowered, self governing LINk Core Functions LINk Governance or Leadership Hub Recruitment, management and support provided by Host organisation Commissioned by external organisations Appropriate Overview and Scrutiny Committees Local care services commissioner s and providers Comments on Needs Assessment, Service Priorities, etc Local intelligence, views, analyses Referrals Contract and funding

Developing Local Involvement Networks Role of HOST Publicity Outreach Info collection Organise meetings Planning & reporting Facilitation Access to Specialists Periodic Citizens Meetings OutreachWebsite Individuals Groups Hard to reach groups Health agencies Care agencies Task Group 1 health issue Task Group 2 social care issue Task Group 3 Issue regarding joint care pathway Process Map Information gathering Priority Setting Action Planning and reporting Doing the work Prioritise issues for taking forward Set up task groups Annual report Report back on work done and conclusions OSCs and PCT

Developing Local Involvement Networks LINks - relationships Local authority – Executive & Overview and Scrutiny Committee Host organisation Voluntary and community sector – existing user groups Health and social care commissioners Health and social care providers Regulators

Developing Local Involvement Networks Thank you Brenda Cook Health Scrutiny Expert Adviser