NCDN and ADAPT are delighted to have been awarded the status of 'Host' to the newly formed LINk.
LINk Launch Event
You can download a summary of the
The Northumberland LINk overview.doc 1.11 MB 10.05.2008 08:02
LINks (Local Involvement Networks) were introduced in April 2008. One of the aims behind LINks is to provide more people with the chance to shape local care services. Existing members of Patients’ Forums are well placed to be involved early on in the setting up of LINks, but LINks are to be formed of a much wider base and the Government has urged Local Authorities seek the involvement of people involved LINks in user and carer groups, and representatives from the wider voluntary and community sector too.
ADAPT and NCDN (known as 'The Partners') are committed to the four principles that underpin the new arrangements for involving people in improvements and changes to health and social care services, as laid out in ‘A stronger local voice: A framework for creating a stronger local voice in the development of health and social care services.’ These are
• independence
• engagement
• accountability
• transparency
In addition ADAPT and NCDN are signed up to the principles in the nationally agreed Strategic Framework for Community Development – social justice, participation, equality, learning and co-operation.
The folowing summary gives a picture of how NCDN/ADAPT intend to carry out their new role.
Methods
Recruiting the initial core membership of the LINk
The recruitment process will be based on best practice in community engagement and will rely on extensive partnership building, harnessing the wide and diverse range of existing networks of both Adapt and NCDN and those of others who have a track record of supporting people. The Partners hold a comprehensive database of community groups and active individuals.
The Partners will seek to build on current good practice through early discussions with:
• Service providers
• Organisations currently holding LINk – type contracts or with user involvement activities
• Organisations offering support to specific communities
• Existing networks at locality level.
The Partners will also take a positive action approach to involvement and specifically target under-represented groups and users from across the county. This will be in addition to a recruitment programme based on the emerging belonging and area communities, using links with community partnerships and local groups as well as general marketing through the local press.
Recruitment materials will identify the new role and potential scope of the LINk and responsibility of its members. When the initial core membership has been recruited a training programme will be provided to inform and support members.
Building on recruitment and training ‘Terms of reference’ and agreed protocols and processes to enable the Link to work effectively will be agreed and adopted.
This means, in practice, that the partnership will work with LINk members from the outset to increase understanding of the various kinds of role they may be approached to take on, so that members can be equipped to speak for themselves. The role of the host will be to offer learning, support and follow-up to enable participants to recognise the various approaches they might encounter and be well equipped to take part. These approaches are likely to include:
Consultation
In order to be usefully responsive, members require briefings, opportunities and time to reflect, opportunities to think and respond collectively, and from a range of perspectives. The host needs to ensure that consultation fatigue is minimised by negotiating with strategic partners to ensure that there is a clear process for feedback, time to reflect, and that the parameters of the real opportunity to influence are known.
Engagement
To engage as equal partners in development of strategies and their implementation, members of the LINk will be encouraged to audit their own knowledge, understanding and skills in representation and decision-making. A programme of learning and support will be identified and offered in response to this self assessment, and the host will also play a role in negotiating engagement opportunities with public bodies.
Participation
The Partners will support LINk members in taking on representative roles where appropriate, and to play an active role in awareness-raising activities where a user voice is required. LINk members will be offered opportunities to participate in a range of functions, such as on interview panels and task groups.
Scrutiny
Some LINk members will be participating in scrutiny activities and will need support in designing visits and enquiries, in interpreting any findings and presenting these to service providers with a solution-focussed approach.
Action research
LINk members may benefit from training in participatory action research, so that they can take part in accessible user-friendly research programmes that enable users of services to articulate their issues and concerns.
Advocacy
The Partners will be committed to LINk members speaking for themselves and developing their own agenda. From time to time there may be a need to assess whether all sections of the community are equally represented in decision making processes, and to ensure that every participant is heard, which may entail advocacy and other practical positive action measures.
Belonging Communities
The partners both individually and collectively work throughout Northumberland at County, District and Community level and recognise the “Belonging Communities” as an opportunity for the LINk to engage at the most appropriate level to influence its work. The partners have vast experience of working with departments in both Northumberland County Council and District Councils and as part of the VCS consortium are recognised as inclusive and proactive organisations. The partners will work with the newly designated Voice and Choice officers, locality officers, and adult and CYP social care staff operating at these levels. We envisage that the LINk membership will strongly reflect the communities of identity and interest and this means we will be able to play a proactive role in ensuring the involvement of these communities within the Belonging communities.
New website on its way......
The Northumberland LINk will have its own dedicated website as soon as possible, but in the meantime NCDN will post information and briefings that may be of interest, on this page. The basic website is viewable at www.northumberlandlink.org.uk
