About

What is the Wandsworth LINk?

The Wandsworth Local Involvement Network is a membership organisation, open to individuals and organisations in Wandsworth who want to make the local health and social care services better.

Local Involvement Networks (called “LINks” for short) are the government initiative that replaced ‘Patient Forums’, and help strengthen the system that enables communities to influence the care they receive. For a brief leaflet explaining the role of Wandsworth LINk click here

The Wandsworth Local Involvement Network (LINk) was set up in April 2008, to facilitate local involvement between users and providers of local health and social care services. The LINk will be a democratic organisation “owned” by its Members, who can put themselves forward for election to the LINk Executive.

The Wandsworth LINk’s activities and work programme is supported by a ‘LINk Host’, the Wandsworth Care Alliance, and funding primarily comes from central government. Wandsworth Borough Council and Wandsworth Primary Care Trust also contribute to funding for engagement with the community.

What services does LINks cover?

Wandsworth LINk’s remit covers all publicly funded health and social care services in Wandsworth, except for children’s social services which are covered by separate arrangements.

What powers do LINks have?

Legislation provides LINks with powers to help carry out their role and places duties on the Local Authority and the NHS to provide information and access to premises:

• LINk-authorised representatives can enter specific premises and view the services provided
• LINks can ask commissioners and providers for information about services and expect a response with a set period (using Freedom of Information Act powers if needed)
• LINks can make recommendations to the Local Authority and NHS and expect a response from within a set amount of time
• LINks can refer matters to the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committees for action

Why should I become a member?

Wandsworth LINk works with local organisations and partnerships. The LINk gives members the chance to check how health and social care services are planned and run, and bring together the views of everyone in the Borough to make sure that views are heard where they count and can change things for the better.

So LINks help councils, the NHS and social care providers to listen and respond to a wide range of views so that people, groups and organisations can influence all health and social care services in an area.

Members decide on the LINk’s work programme and how resources are to be used (and budgets spent). LINks have resources, powers (see above) and a network of contacts to help in the challenge of making sure people can have their say, and receive feedback.

Be part of a LINk

It is up to you how and when you get involved – you can just comment on issues when contacted or you can get more involved – by helping to raise awareness of an issue or by helping to find solutions (for example – meeting providers or being part of a working group). There are many ways you can get involved and it does not have to take up a lot of your time. You can take a few minutes to answer a survey or take longer to represent the community when a health or social care service is being discussed with service providers.

How do I become a member?

You may wish to stand for election to the LINk Executive, or vote on the LINk’s work programme and how it will spend its resources. To vote, and to be a candidate for the Executive, you must be a member of the LINk.

The Wandsworth LINk provides:

• A stronger local voice about health and social care services in Wandsworth
• Check how health and social care services are planned and run
• News and updates about local health and social care issues

Open to Everyone in Wandsworth:

• Local residents
• Patients and health service users
• Social care users
• Carers
• Residents groups
• Voluntary organisations
• Community groups

Finding out more information

We have written a Frequently Asked Questions page to answer more of the questions you may have.

We hope you will want to participate in the work of the Wandsworth LINk. You can be a member if you meet some simple requirements: you must be over the age of 16; and you must live in the Borough of Wandsworth OR be registered with a GP in the Borough.

If you have any questions, please contact us by email, telephone or post.