What is a LINk? Local Involvement Network or LINk were set up by the Government in April 2008 to give local people a stronger voice in how their health and social care services are delivered. A LINk is an independent network of local people and groups, whose responsibility it will be to discover what people want from their health and social care services. A LINk is being set up in every local authority area where they have health and social care responsibilities.  All LINks will be managed by local groups and individuals who will decide what their priorities are and how they will work.  To help them with this, each LINk will have a “Host” organisation to support them in their work.  The Host must be an independent, not for profit organisation and in County Durham, local charity The Pioneering Care Partnership have been appointed as Host. County Durham LINk will help councils, the local NHS and organisations who provide care services 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.  The LINk will help local people and organisations to speak with one voice and have real influence over key decision makers. The LINk will be able to: Obtain the views of people about their needs for, and experience of, local health and social care services Enable people to monitor and review the commissioning and provision of care services Enter and ‘view’ certain local health and social health and care services Make known the views of local people and make reports and recommendations Develop positive working relationships with those responsible for commissioning, providing, managing or scrutinising local health and social care services For more information about County Durham LINk please visit www.linkcountydurham.co.uk or phone 01325 327431.