What is a LINk?

Chapters in this section

What is a LINK?
How was the LINk been set up?
Individual complaints
Governance of the LINk
Decisions made by the LINk

What is a LINk?
A LINk is a Local Involvement Network. It is a way for people to have their say about local health and social care services and to influence how services are delivered.
Anyone with an interest in health and social care in Islington can be a member of, or be involved in, the LINk – both individuals and local organisations. If this is you then get in touch today!

The LINk has powers to:

  • Get replies to questions and recommendations from those who plan and run services
  • Enter and view services where publicly funded care is provided
  • Refer issues to councillors and get a response

For a copy of the LINk’s information leaflet, please click here.

To find out more about what the Islington LINk achieved in 2010/11, please click here to see their report. 

To download the LINk Annual Report 2009/10 click here.
To download the Link Annual Report for 2008/09 click here.

The future of LINks – The Coalition Government’s Health White Paper extends the role of LINks in to the future, though LINks may change their name.

How was the LINk set up?
A conference of interested local individuals and organisations in June approved governance arrangements and appointed a core group to lead the work required to get the LINk working – to develop its structures and decision-making and communication arrangements – and to provide the leadership and governance for the LINk as it starts to carry out its activities.

The activities of the Islington LINk are supported and enabled by the LINk Host organisation, Voluntary Action Islington.

Individual complaints
If you have an individual complaint about a Healthcare Service you have received please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).
If you are unhappy with a Social Care Service you have received then please contact the council.

Governance of the LINk
The Islington LINk has published its Procedures for governance and decision-making.  These Procedures set out how the LINk will operate, how it is led and governed and how it takes its decisions.

In addition, the LINk has also published a number of supplementary procedures and policies.  These include a Code of Conduct which governs the behaviour of those who hold positions of responsibility in the LINk or act on behalf of the LINk.

A copy of these Procedures and supplementary procedures and policies can be found by following the link below.

The Islington LINk is led and governed by the Islington LINk Core Group in accordance with its published Procedures.  The membership of the Core Group can be found by following the links below.

The key decisions of the LINk Core Group are summarised in the section on ‘Decisions of the LINk’, below. Further information about the work of the Core can be found in the section ‘meetings of the LINk Core Group’.

Procedures

Code of Conduct

Please click here for a list of who your LINk representatives are on the Core Group, the LINk’s decision-making body.

Decisions made by the LINk
The LINk is required to publish a written statement of certain ‘relevant’ decisions and its reasons for them. These key decisions have to be taken in accordance with the LINk’s Procedures and are primarily taken by the Core Group, as the elected leadership and governance group of the LINk. The decisions of the LINk will be summarised here and also circulated to all LINk members.

Click here to find Islington LINk on Twitter