Frequently Asked Questions

You can join a LINk by telephone, online or using the services of your local Host Organisation. However, the quickest and easiest way is by registering here, on Community Voices Online

LINks enables genuine involvement of a wide range of people. This ensures that local communities have a strong voice in commissioning health and social care, enabling them to influence key decisions about the services they use - and pay for.

Local Involvement Networks (LINks) are a network of local people, organisations and groups from across the community that want to make care services better. A LINk will give you the chance to say what you think and to suggest ideas to help improve services. Their aim is to provide a stronger voice for local people in the planning, design, commissioning and provision of health and social care services.

Public involvement is the process of obtaining and considering the views of the general public in planning and decision-making processes.

Each LINk will be supported and guided by a Host Organisation that is contracted by the LINks Local Authority to provide support to enable LINk members and participants to maximise their involvement.

You can do as much or as little as you want. You can contribute by registering your opinions on surveys and discussion boards here on Community Voices Online or become much more involved by attending meetings, going on hospital visits and organising community engagement activities.

Community Voices Online provides an interpretation and translation service into 170 languages. If you would like some information about how to contact your LINk in a different language please call 0845 601 5849 to speak to an interpreter.

LINks are established in a way that is inclusive and enables involvement of the local community, especially those who are difficult to involve or seldom heard. LINks are not merely groups of individuals, but networks that bring together diverse groups in the area, and representatives of other networks. You can only join a LINk if you are aged 16 or above. It is advised that you join the LINk in the area that you live, however, you can join any LINk across England if you so wish.

Your involvement will help everyone who uses health and social care services in the future - including you.

Community Voices Online is a web-based system, tailor made for the support of Local involvement Networks (LINks). By combining the World Wide Web, the latest software developments and traditional support systems, Community Voices Online is able to provide a comprehensive support and communication tool for LINks and their Host Organisations.