Each local Council must contract with a Host Organisation to establish and support the LINk in its area. The role of a Host includes activities such as helping LINks with marketing and communications, developing policies and procedures (covering aspects such as decision making), keeping records, arranging visits to view health and social care services, gathering the views of local people, and organising meetings.
Help and Care, a registered charity, has been appointed to be the Host Organisation for many of the LINks in Southern England. Help and Care has been working with local communities for 23 years. Mark Sharman, their Chief Executive, said “We are delighted to host the LINks. Over the coming months Help and Care will build the foundation from which the LINks service will grow. We want as many people as possible to be involved, any person of any age, sex, nationality or profession is welcome; everyone’s opinion counts. The LINk has the potential to grow into an extremely powerful group that can lobby for change and influence important decisions on health and social care services.”
To find out more about Help and Care, visit the website at www.helpandcare.org.uk