The people of Derbyshire can now have a stronger voice in the planning and improvement of the Health and Social Care services they receive. We are currently recruiting members and stakeholders to make this LINk your LINk. The issues and services that are important to Derbyshire people are important to us.

So what is a LINk?

Local Involvement Networks, or LINks, is a Government initiative to give communities across the country a real input into their local health and social care services. New Government regulations require all service providers to respond to any issues and concerns raised by the LINk. Local Involvement Networks pick up from where Patient and Public Involvement Forums left off, but with a wider brief and more power to hold providers to account.

At Derbyshire LINk our focus is on helping to shape services to meet the needs of individuals, and to help improve them as a result of people's experiences. We aim to work closely with all of our Members, Stakeholders and Service Providers, interested organisations from both the Voluntary and Business sectors, and individuals within Derbyshire.

We will aim to engage you in different ways whether that is through group meetings or events, or even in your local market place. We want to understand those services that are not working, and just as importantly, the things that are.

We will investigate issues on your behalf, presenting them to the service providers and recommending improvements to these services in order to meet your needs. We understand that Derbyshire is a big area and realise that some services may be failing in one part of the county while working well in others.

Derbyshire LINk cannot succeed without your help and input. We want you to be involved, whether that is through commenting on single issues when you speak to us, or by becoming a LINk member and helping us in finding solutions. Any individual living in Derbyshire can become a LINk Member, even if you work in Health and Social Care. We just ask that you declare anything that you think may be a conflict of interest. We also want groups and organisations to be involved in the LINk. If you think you could help us achieve better services, we are looking for LINk stakeholders to play an active part in how we tackle and solve issues and how we promote LINk across Derbyshire.

We also want to develop close partnerships with all Service Providers, whether Local Governments, PCT's or Private companies. We want service providers to know that we are here to work with them, not against them, and that our main aim is to make our services better for all through recognising good practices as well as aiming to improve any weaknesses.

The Department of Health have produced a booklet titled, "Help build a better health and social care service".  This booklet is aimed at the general public and further explains Local Involvement Networks.  A copy of this can be viewed/dowloaded by clicking here.

Alternatively, the Department of Health have also produced a guide specifically for health and social care managers.  If you would like to view/download a copy please click here.