1. 1 Local Involvement Network (LINk) for Hertfordshire Tim Anfilogoff Policy Manager Users and Carers, ACS Appendix 1

2. 2 Policy For health and social care to fulfil its potential, members of the public should take a substantial role in shaping the care system's development, and patients and service users should be kept well informed of clinical processes and decisions (DH)

3. 3 LGA View ‘…LINks are an opportunity to strengthen local decision-making by involving groups and individuals from new and existing communities… LINks give us a unique opportunity to listen to young people, busy working people and people from newly arrived communities - those who are seldom heard and even more rarely heeded…’ Councillor David Rogers, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Community Well -being Board,

4. 4 Legal Framework April 2008 Patient and Public Forums abolished LINks established Social Care focus, not just NHS HCC statutory duty to procure ‘Host’ organisation by September 2008 HCC statutory duty to ensure LINk activities under way from April 2008

5. 5 Regulations (1) Draft regulations – consultation closed 21 December 2007 Government not yet published response Freedom of Information Act rights Adult Commissioners must respond to LINk reports within 20 days Children’s commissioners exempted

6. 6 Regulations (2) Right to enter adult health and social care premises except where one person has tenancy or licence Excludes bedrooms (unless invited by resident) Only ‘accredited’ members to have right Code of conduct Children’s services are exempted

7. 7 Regulations (3) LINk referral of social care matters to OSC OSC must respond within 20 days setting out action to be taken and whether OSC will scrutinise the issue NHS Act to be modified so same applies to Health Scrutiny

8. 8 Phased Approach Three phases of support have been identified by DH and the National Centre for Involvement: Getting Ready - January to March 2008 Getting Going - April 2008 to March 2009 Getting Better - April 2009 to March 2011

9. 9 Hertfordshire Developments (1) ‘Early Adopter’ – Commission for Patient and Public Involvement input January- October 2007 Steering Group met four times Some community development work Stakeholder Conference October 2007

10. 10 Hertfordshire Developments (2) Stakeholders meeting convened by HCC 22 November 2007 Decision to hold elections to Transitional LINk Board as soon as possible January 2008 Transitional Board elected (10 individual members, 9 voluntary sector members) 13 February first meeting of Board

11. 11 Membership Voluntary Sector membership Watford Indian Association (co-vice chair), Viewpoint (procurement group rep), Dacorum Patients Group, Hertfordshire Hearing Advisory Service, Alzheimers Society St Albans, Hertfordshire Mencap, Hertfordshire Age Concern, Carers in Hertfordshire (co-vice chair), POhWER, Vacancy Individual membership Henry Goldberg (Chair), Malcolm Rainbow, Norma Young, Santo Mann, Susan McCann, Doreen Bratby, Michael Taylor, Anne-Marie Smith, Jean Brown, Peter Williams

12. 12 Board’s First Decisions Three sub groups set up to look at: Organisation and Membership (including PPI Legacy) Communications Care Services Looking at support needs April to September 2008

13. 13 Procurement of ‘Host’ Procurement group set up November 2007 Draft specification published http://www.hertsdirect.org/havesay/LINks/ http://www.hertsdirect.org/havesay/LINks/ Closing date for comments 29 February 1 April date to advertise tender opportunity On target for September commencement