Kingston Local Involvement Network
October 2009

The KVA Trustee Board has agreed to take on the Host Agency role of supporting the Local Involvement Network (LINk) for Kingston; to take effect from October 2009.

KVA has a long history of supporting organisations and local people to have a say in all matters concerning health and social care; informing on policy and planning issues; involving people as representatives in strategic planning, giving service users and carers an opportunity to contribute to matters that affect their health and wellbeing. Taking on the role as a Host agency to support the LINk is just another strand of what KVA is renowned for doing.

Over recent years our Health and Social Care Manager has kept our affiliated members and others up to date with the Department of Health changes around their duty to involve people in matters concerning health and social care, and encouraging them to have a say in shaping services. From the days of the Community Health Councils, through the era of Patient and Public Involvement Forums for Health, to the existing arrangements for Local Involvement Networks, we have been continually informing and supporting people through the changes to become involved.

A Local Involvement Network is intended to be a conduit for information between service users and service providers, facilitating communication between these two groups with a view to improving health and social care services in our local community. The role of KVA will be to support the LINk in devising and carrying out its work plan, by ensuring that systems and policies are in place to facilitate this. Our aim is to re-establish the LINk as an effective system for involving people. We intend to find a LINk office space whereby members can become actively involved.

Currently there is 18 months of the contract remaining and we hope that during the coming months we can help people to work together; to track important changes that are happening within the health and social care agenda and give a voice to local people to make a difference. If you wish to be involved in this network, KVA as a prospective host agency has the experience and knowledge that can help you achieve this. We shall be inviting people to a public stakeholder event in the near future and hope you can come along, bringing positive ideas to progress the LINk work.

Maria Tunmer, Health & Social Care Manager, KVA, mariat@kva.org.uk