LINk will be made up of individuals and groups from across the community and will be funded and supported to hold local health and social care services to account.

To help with the task of establishing LINks seven Early Adopter Programmes were established in Doncaster, Dorset, Durham, Hertfordshire, Kensington and Chelsea, Manchester and Medway. The learning from the different models and approaches they applied has informed the development of LINk organisations throughout the country. Each individual LINk will develop its own methods of working and thus its own model based on local circumstances.

Darlington LINk

Darlington Borough Council has now appointed a host organisation to facilitate the LINk. The organisation is the Carers Federation who have already worked in Darlington supporting the Independent Complaints and Advocacy Service for health service complaints. They are currently negotiating for town centre premises in Darlington and advertising for two staff members who will be based in Darlington to deliver the LINk.

LINk is:-

a local community-based network of individuals committed to strengthening and widening the influence of patients, carers, users of social care services and the public in the process of planning and improving health and social care services.
to be independently run and will agree a workplan of issues to research and report on.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee can also commission the LINk to do pieces of work on its behalf, supporting the workplan they have agreed..

To be effective a LINk needs a wide range of participants and involvement that is inclusive, diverse and representative of all geographical areas in Darlington. LINk members will have a key role in the provision and commissioning of future services

LINk signs up participants in Darlington

Darlington LINk now has official participants following a workshop held by Carers Federation the host organisation. The event has also lead to the development of a Core Group of participants who will continue to develop the LINk over the next few months. It will be responsible for developing governance arrangements including codes of conduct; conflict of interest and arrangements for enter and view.

The Core Group will also be responsible for agreeing the workplan for the LINk and raising awareness about the role of LINk in influencing changes to health and care services. As part of this process the group received a presentation given by Louise Okello, Head of Planning, Partnerships and Development from Darlington Primary Care Trust (PCT).

If you would like further information about Darlington LINk please contact:

Participation Pack [Word Document, 88.5kb]

Diane Lax - Team Leader
Darlington LINk, eVolution, Church Row, Darlington, DL1 5QD
Telephone 01325 380145
Mobile 07525237723
e:mail: d.lax@carersfederation.co.uk