Visit the Sandwell LINks Website:
Black Country Housing Group has been awarded the contract to be the host organisation of the Sandwell Local Involvement Network (LINk).
LINks have replaced Patient and Public Involvement in Health Forums and aim to give local people a stronger voice in how their health and social care services are delivered. A LINk will consist of local individuals, user-led organisations and local voluntary and community sector organisations with an interest in improving health and social care services in their area.
LINks will:
- Engage with the local community to find out what local people’s views are about local health and social care services and provide opportunities to get voices heard
- Investigate specific areas of concern
- Use its statutory powers to hold services to account
- Feedback information to the people responsible for commissioning, providing, managing and checking up on health and social care services
- Carry out monitoring visits and spot checks
- Make reports and recommendations to relevant bodies and receive a response within a specified time period
- Refer issues to the local Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC)
Black Country Housing’s role as the host for the Sandwell LINk is to:
- Help the LINk get started: work with local people and groups to set up the LINk
- Develop the LINk and build capacity
- Encourage involvement from local groups, voluntary organisations and individuals
- Hold meetings and organise networking and promotional events
- Cascade information to LINk participants
- Provide advice and support to the LINk
- Liaise and work with other strategic organisations and partnerships locally
- Provide training
- Record LINk activity and report to the Local Authority
- Hold money for the LINk and record expenditure
If you would like to find out more or you are interested in becoming involved, then please email us on SandwellLINk@bcha.co.uk or contact us on 0121 561 1969.