Hackney is looking for an organisation to set up and run the Local Involvement Network (LINk), a new form of public consultation forum which will encourage local people to have their say over health and social care services in the borough. The budget for the host will be up to £620,000 over the three years of the contract, which starts in September 2008.

Hackney Council, on behalf of Team Hackney, is inviting an organisation or a consortium to tender for the contract to host the LINk, with a deadline to apply by Thursday, July 10th.

The task of the LINk will be to promote and support the involvement of local people in the commissioning, provision and scrutiny of health and social care services by:
a)finding out what people think about these services
b)presenting these views to those who provide or commission these services
c)facilitating the monitoring and evaluation of care services
d)recommending improvements in health and social care services.

The LINk will be an independent body which will determine what work it does, but its focus will be on ensuring that services are shaped to meet people’s needs and that services are improved as a result of people’s experiences.

The closing date for submissions is 12 noon on Thursday, July 10th. Proposals can be submitted individually or in partnership with one or more organisations, and submissions must demonstrate that they are independent from health and social care statutory agencies.


ENDS