About the Local Involvement Networks (LINks) Programme

We are running a programme to provide support, information and advice to partners involved in ensuring patients and the public are given a stronger voice in influencing the delivery of health and social care.

Our key objectives are:

  • To spread information and increase awareness about Patient and Public Engagement (PPE) and recent policy initiative/development
  • To support effective relationships between LINks and their partners
  • To support the development of LINks to enable them to operate effectively 
  • To provide feedback to the Department of Health on the effectiveness of LINks and wider PPE activities in the region.

Our key activities are:

  • Holding quarterly regional whole network days for all people involved with LINks.
  • Working with the LINks to develop their mechanisms for capturing the views of patients and the public (voice data) from their communities and sharing best practice.
  • Supporting LINks to establish routes to use the voice data in shaping decisions about health and social care in their area.
  • Working with health and social care decision makers locally and regionally to raise the potential and benefits of closer working with LINks
  • Ensure focused support is provided to individual LINks where needs are identified in order to develop or maintain an effective LINk.
  • Providing feedback to DH on the effectiveness of LINks and wider PPE activities in each region.
  • Developing a website shared resource area for LINks.
  • Linking the work between Local Involvement Networks (LINks) and User Led Organisations (ULOs) where possible to support collaboration.