Local Involvement Networks (LINks) exist in every local authority area to give people more influence over how their local health and social care services are planned and delivered. This guide explains how LINks operate and how volunteers can join them.

The main role of LINks is to improve care services and their strength lies in their expertise and experience, and in their independence. Each LINk decides its priorities and how it builds on the existing work of the voluntary and community groups.

Health and care professionals know that to provide high quality responsive care, it is essential to understand what really matters to service users and to act upon this information. The role of LINks is to provide this feedback.

With services having to meet higher public expectations, whilst at the same time making the most of existing resources, an ongoing conversation with the community is more important than ever.

LINks have been set up to help bring about genuine changes to health and social care services. This means working in partnership with health and care staff to maintain and improve on what already exists.

ENGAGING AND RESPONDING TO COMMUNITIES is available from DoH.
http://www.dh.gov.uk/dr_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/@ps/documents/digitalasset/dh_111428.pdf