Local Involvement Networks (LINks) in Cumbria

• LINk will be a network of local people, organisations and groups that want to make care services better
• LINk will give you the chance to say what you think and to suggest ideas to improve services
• LINk will represent everyone
• LINk will also work with professionals to make sure your views are heard
• LINk will encourage and support local people to get involved in how local care services are planned and run.
• LINk will look at all health and social care services in an area that are funded by taxpayers
• LINks will feedback this information to the people responsible for commissioning, providing, managing and checking up on the health and social care services so that things can change for the better
• There will be a LINk in every Local Authority area that has social services responsibility.

Dept of Health 2007.

Cumbria County Council has the statutory responsibility (under the Local Government & Public Involvement in Health Act) to enable a Local Involvement Network (LINk) to carry out duties as detailed in section 221 of the act throughout Cumbria.

Download the Department of Health document:  ‘Local Involvement Networks explained’ (pdf 658kb).

The Community Unit of Cumbria County Council is responsible for the effective commissioning and management of the LINk in Cumbria. Adult Services and Health and Well Being Scrutiny panel are also very involved. You can download background information on the scrutiny panel.

Activities to date:

• In July 2007 Cumbria County Council started looking at what needed to be done in order to have a host organisationin place for April 2008 when the legislationwas to go live. 
• A stakeholder development group worked together with an expert advisor from the Centre of Public Scrutiny to put togetherthe service specification for the contract and prepare for the new arrangements from April 2008. 
• An open procurement process was carried out in accordance with Cumbria County Council rules and European legislation and a 3 year contract for £220K per year was awarded to Cumbria CVS.

Further information on the Cumbria LINk and the role of Cumbria CVS.

On the 5th March the regulations governing LINks were laid before parliament and after a deal of confusion, it became clear that transition arrangements had to be put in place until nationwide, LINks could be up and running and able to meet the statutory requirements of the section 221 activities. The transitional arrangements will finish on or before the 30th September 2008 when the host organisation writes to CCC to advise the LINk is functioning.

As these arrangements cannot be handled by either Cumbria County Council or the host organisation Wingspan Consulting have been appointed to fulfil this requirement. 

There is now a Transitional Steering Group in place who will be supported by Wingspan during the forth coming months. 

Further information on the Transitional Steering Group and its activities. 

If you would like further information please contact:

Jane Macfarlane - LINks Support Officer, Cumbria CVS

Telephone: 01228 518992

Email: JaneM@cumbriacvs.org.uk

Or, for information on how the County Council is carrying out its duties contact:

Georgina Ternent - Programme Manager – Third Sector Development & Support, Cumbria County Council

Telephone: 01539 713446

Email: georgina.ternent@cumbriacc.gov.uk