Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Engaging and responding to communities
A brief guide to Local Involvement Networks
Contents
About this guide 01
What is a LINk? 02
Why have LINks been introduced? 04
The benefits to your service 06
Common questions 08
LINks at work – case study 10
Key facts about LINks 12
LINks at work – case study 14
Contacting a LINk 15
Further information 16
01
About this guide
Local Involvement Networks (LINks) exist in every local authority area of England to give people more influence over how their local health and social care services are planned and delivered.
This guide is for health and social care managers and explains more about LINks. It outlines how, through proactive engagement you can better understand the needs of your community.
Working with your LINk should be a key part of commissioning, running and reviewing health and social care services.
02
A LINk is an independent network made up of a mixture of local individuals and organisations – such as voluntary organisations and community groups.
LINkparticipantsareallvolunteersfromacrossthecommunity.Eachbringswiththemdifferentexperiencesandunderstandingofhealthandsocialcareservices.Anindividual’slevelofinvolvementinaLINkiscompletelyupthem.Forinstance,theycouldspendashorttimecompletingasurvey,ortakeonagreaterroleandsitonasteeringgroup.
Tohelpthemdotheirjob,thelegislationestablishingLINksgivesthemcertainpowers–suchasbeingabletomakevisitstohealthandsocialcareservicestoseetheminaction.
EachLINksetsitsownworkprogrammebyfindingoutwhatpeoplewantfromtheirhealthandsocialcareservices–suchashospitals,GPs,carehomesandpharmacies.Itisalsoresponsibleformonitoringthecarethatservicesprovideandreportingitsfindings.
Each local authority area has its own LINk.
Becausenotwoareasarethesame,eachLINkisdifferentintermsoftheprioritiesitdecidestoconcentrateon.Andhowitbuildsontheexistingworkofthevoluntaryandcommunitygroups.
ThemainroleofLINksistohelpmakethecareyouprovidebetter.ThecorestrengthofLINKsliesintheirexpertiseandexperience,andintheirindependence.
What is a LINk?
03
“ LINks play an important role in helping to improve the health service. NHS Alliance members are committed to making the NHS great and interaction between professionals and public is core to this”NHS Alliance
The public have told Government what they want from health and care services. They want services to: get the basics right, fit services around their lives, treat them as individuals and to work with them as partners.
Healthandcareprofessionalsknowthattoprovidehighqualityresponsivecare,itisessentialtounderstandwhatreallymatterstoserviceusersandtoactuponthisinformation.
Withserviceshavingtomeethigherpublicexpectations,whilstatthesametimemakingthemostofexistingresources,anongoingconversationbetweenyouandyourcommunityismoreimportantthanever.
LINksareakeywayoflisteningtoyourcommunityandinvolvingtheminimportantdecisionsaboutthecommissioningandrunningofservices.
Effectiveengagementthrowsupinformationthatcanresultininnovativenewideas,improvedqualityandhigherproductivity.Yourrelationshipwiththecommunitywillalsobenefit.
The vision*
“Our aspiration is for patients and the public to drive the design and delivery of high quality services.
“To achieve this aspiration, every day, everyone working in the NHS needs to involve patients and the public in involving decisions”
LINksarejustoneofanumberofinitiativesthataimtohelpachievethisvision.
Why have LINks been introduced?
04
*Puttingpeopleattheheartofcare:Thevisionforpublicandpatientexperienceandengagementinhealthandsocialcare.DepartmentofHealth2009.
05
The benefits to your service
By proactively engaging with LINk, it can help you to:
•seekoutandlistentotheviewsofmorepeopleinyourcommunity;
•receivericherfeedbackaboutwhatyourcommunityneedsandwantsfromservices;
•engagewithcommunitiesandfindoutpeople’sviewsinasimpleandeffectiveway;
•avoidduplicationofeffort;•prioritiseanddirectresourcestowards
servicesthatlocalpeoplevalue;•makedecisionsaboutthecommissioning
andrunningofservices.
LINkshavebeensetuptohelpbringaboutgenuinechangestohealthandsocialcareservices.Thismeansworkinginpartnershipwithhealthandcarestafftomaintainandimproveonwhatalreadyexists.
ALINkwillworkindependently,asacriticalfriend,andwillprovidereportsandrecommendationsbasedonexperiencesandviewsofthecommunitythatwillhelptoimproveservices.
OneroleaLINkhasistofeedbacktotheCareQualityCommissiononhowlocaltrustsandcouncilsareperformingagainstsetstandards,andonhowtheyhaveworkedwiththeirlocalLINk.
UsingaLINktoreflectlocalserviceswillalsohaveapositiveimpactonWorldClassCommissioningscores.
TofinddetailsofyournearestLINk,goto www.nhs.uk/links.
06
07
“ Nurses can work with LINks to ensure patients are aware of the specialist services available in the area.”Royal College of Nursing
Common Questions
How do LINks work?
LINksarelikelyto:•askpeoplewhattheylikeanddislike
aboutcareservices;•seekideastohelpimproveservices;•explorespecificissuesofconcernto
thecommunity;•tellthosewhocommission,provide
andmanagelocalserviceswhatthecommunitythinks;
•carryoutvisitstoservicestoseethematwork;
•workwithcommissionersandproviderstoimprove,amend,reconfigureandsupplementservices;
•facilitateandinfluenceconsultationonneworrevisedcommissioningandprovisionofservices.
How can people get involved?
Thereareanumberofwaysforpeopletoinfluenceoutcomesanddriveimprovementoftheirlocalservices.Itisuptoindividualstodecidehowandwhentheywanttobeinvolved.ALINkprovidesmanywaysforpeopletoexpresstheirviews.Thismayinvolvetakingafewminutestoanswerasurveyorgivingupmoretimetobepartofaworkinggroup.
Can I use LINks to look into issues that affect my service?
TheprioritiesofaLINkshouldbeinformedbytheviewsofthecommunity.ThiswouldnotstopaservicecommissioningaLINktodoadditionalworkiftheNetworkwaswillingtodothis.HealthandcareprofessionalsarefreetoasktheirLINk
08
toundertakeworkontheirbehalf,butthisisatthediscretionoftheLINkandwoulddependifitfitswiththeLINk’sfocusandlocalneed.
Can LINks members enter and view any service? OnlyanauthorisedrepresentativeofaLINkcanenterandviewservices.Toprotectusersofservicesandthesmoothdeliveryofcaretherearespecificsafeguardsinplace.Forexample:anauthorisedrepresentativemusthaveundergoneaCriminalRecordsBureaucheck.Providersalsohavetherighttorefuseentryiftheybelieveitwillinterruptthesmoothdeliveryofcare.Somepremisesareexempt,suchaspartsofacarehomewhicharenotcommunal
areas(e.g.aresident’sbedroom)andpremisesorpartsofpremisesusedasresidentialaccommodationforemployees.
ACodeofConductforLINks’visitshasbeenproducedbytheDepartmentofHealth.Tofindoutmore,readthe‘Furtherinformation’sectionattheendofthisdocument.
Can I join a LINk?
Yes,althoughcertainNHSbodiescannotjoinaLINk–theseincludeNationalHealthServicetrusts,NHSfoundationtrusts,PrimaryCareTrustsandStrategicHealthAuthorities–thepeoplewhoworkforthemarefreetojoinaLINk,aslongasthereisnoconflictofinterest.IfthereisapotentialconflictofinterestitshouldbedeclaredtotheLINk.
09
NHS Tees (encompassing NHS Hartlepool, NHS Middlesbrough, NHS Redcar and Cleveland and NHS Stockton on Tees) wanted to have an understanding of what local people wanted from its Out of Hours service. It called upon the expertise of the four LINks in the region as part of wider communication and engagement activity to help inform decision-making for future service planning.
AllfourLINksagreedtotakepart.InitiallytheLINkssupportedthePCTinsurveyingthelocalpopulationtofindouttheviewsandpreferencesofthecommunityonOutofHoursserviceprovision.ThesefindingswerethenusedbyNHSTeestocreateareportwhichinformedthedevelopmentofaservicespecificationforOutofHours.
ThiswassenttotheLINksfortheirinputaspartofinterpretationoftheresultstoensurethatthePCT’sfutureplanningmatchedtheidentifiedneedsoflocalpeople.Focusgroupsandmeetingswereheldtodevelopthreekeyquestionareastobeincludedindialoguesessionswithpotentialfutureserviceprovidersaspartoftheprocurementprocess.
TheLINksassistedNHSTeesincreatingalocalpictureofwhatpeoplewantedfromtheserviceandbyinterpretingtheresults;NHSTeescanensurethattheseviewsimpacttheselectionofserviceprovidersandindevelopingfutureservices.
WorkingcloselywiththefourLINkshassupportedNHSTeestohaveacommunitywidedialogueaboutpeople’sexperienceofandneedsfromlocalservicesandtohelpthemfeedbacktocommunitiesabouthowthoseviewshavehelpedshapedecisions.
LINks at work – case study
10
11
“ Open engagement with patients and communities is essential in helping PCTs commission services that reflect the needs, priorities and aspirations of their populations”Gary Belfield, Director of Commissioning, World Class Commissioning
•EverylocalauthorityareawithresponsibilityforsocialserviceshasaLINk
•AnyonecanjoinaLINkincludingindividualsandrepresentativesofcharitiesandcommunitygroups
•LINksareindependentandnotpartoflocalgovernmentortheNHS
•ALINk’sremitcoversallthehealthandsocialcareservicesinanareathatarecommissionedbytheNHSandlocalauthoritiesandincludesindependentprovidersofpubliclyfundedservices.Theonlyservicesthatareexcludedarechildren’ssocialservices
•Underthelaw,LINkscan: –askhealthandsocialcarecommissioners
forinformationabouttheirservicesandexpectaresponse;
–issuereportsormakerecommendationsaboutaserviceandreceivearesponsewithin20workingsdays;
–refermatterstothelocalcouncil’sOverviewandScrutinyCommittee;
–entercertainservicesandviewthecareprovided.PleaseseetheCodeofConductonvisitingservicesformoreinformationwww.dh.gov.uk/links
•EachNetworkisindependentandsupportedbyanorganisationcalledahost.Thegovernmenthasmade£84millionavailabletofundLINksbetween2008/2009and2010/2011.
Key facts about LINks
12
13
14
NHS Sutton and Merton works closely with both the Sutton and Merton LINks, to ensure that services are shaped with local needs in mind. These relationships have been successful in bringing about visible changes to services and influencing the commissioning process.
Forexample,thelocalBreastScreeningServiceshavechangedtoreflectissuesraisedbyMertonLINkaboutaccessforthevisuallyimpaired.
ScreeninginformationisnowavailableinlargeprintandBrailletoaddressthisandthewebsitehasbeenmademoreaccessible.WorkisalsounderwaytosupportthereferralprocessfromGPtoscreening.
InSutton,areportbytheLINkinvestigatingtheunmethealthneedsofmigrantcommunitieshelpedtosupportafundingbidwhichwillprovideassistancetohelpnewlyarrivedcommunitiesaccesshealthservices.
BothLINksplayacontinuedroleineducatinghealthservicemanagersabouttheissuesonthefrontline,andareinconstantcontactwiththePCTtocommunicateanyconcerns.
LINks at work – case study
Paetautreptaquamcusanienimexceaquamquibusapitlabililisvelipidelignimi,earumvoluptaspaeumapeliquoseumillantaligenistiam,quamisetalitdebitutemreprorromoloremfugit,nullatiuradquaenisrerest.
15
Everyperson’sviewsandexperiencesofhealthandsocialcareisvaluable.Ifyouprovideormanageaservice,dotellthepeopleyoucareforaboutLINks.
Ifyouprovideorcommissionhealthorsocialcareservices,itisgoodpracticetogetintouchwithyourLINk.TherearemanywaystolocateyournearestLINkandfindmoreinformation.•Searchunderyourpostcodeorarea
nametofindyournearestLINkonwww.nhs.uk/links
•YoucanalsofindyournearestLINkonline.ManyLINkshavetheirownwebsiteswithinformationonrecentprojects,membersandcontacts
•Ifyou’realreadyinvolvedinaLINk,youcanregisterontheLINksExchangewww.lx.nhs.uktoaccessalistofindividualLINkswebsites
•Alternatively,contactyourlocalauthoritywithresponsibilityforsocialservices.
Contacting a LINk
A range of information has been produced to support the way LINks work with the NHS and social care services. If you manage, provide or commission services you might be particularly interested in:
• Code of Conduct for LINks’ Visits:TohelpensurethatvisitsbyauthorisedLINks’representativesarecarriedoutappropriately,aCodeofConducthasbeenpublished.Informedbybestpractice,aswellastheviewsofserviceusersandproviders,thecodeaimstoensurethatvisitsareproportionate,reasonableanddonotimpactontherightsofpeoplewhouseservices
• LINks Legislation:TheLocalGovernmentandPublicInvolvementinHealthAct2007setsouttheroleandfunctionofLINkswww.dh.gov.uk/links
• LINks Directions:ToensurethatindependentprovidersarecoveredbyLINks,thecommissionersofhealthandsocialcareserviceshavebeendirectedbygovernmenttoamendallcontractspost1stApril2008withindependentproviders.TheseamendmentsrelatetoallowingLINksrepresentativestoenterandviewservices,aswellasprovidingLINkswithinformationrelatingtoservicestheymightrunwhicharepubliclyfunded.Furtherinformationontheseandotherresourcescanbefoundbyvisitingwww.dh.gov.uk/links
Further information
16
• Overview and Scrutiny Committees (OSC):LINksandOSCshavedifferent,butcomplementaryroles.Forinstance,LINkshavepowersto‘enterandview’placeswhereservicesareprovided,whereasOSCshavepowerstocallseniorNHSorlocalauthoritystafftomeetingstoexplaindecisionsandproposals.UnliketheparticipantsofLINks,electedcouncillorsservingonOSCsarelocalpoliticianswhofulfiltheirrolewithinthewidercontextofthecouncil’scorporateobjectivesandexternalpartnerships.
Pleasealsovisitwww.dh.gov.uk/ppeformoreinformationongettingthepublicinvolvedinhealthandcareservices.
17
©Crowncopyright2010290334NEW
Gateway:10443
Ifyourequirefurthercopiesofthistitlevisitwww.orderline.dh.gov.ukandquote:Engaging and responding to communities.
DHPublicationsOrderlinePOBox777LondonSE16XHEmail: [email protected]
Tel:03001231002Fax:01623724524Mincom:03001231003(8amto6pm,MondaytoFriday)
www.dh.gov.uk/links
