Local Involvement Networks (LINks) are a new initiative set up by the Department of Health to give local people a stronger voice in how their health and social care services are delivered. The role of the LINks is to find out what people want, monitor local services and to use their powers to hold services to account.

Sheffield Local Involvement Network (LINk) 

Sheffield LINk involves local people in influencing the health and social care services in the city.

The LINk in Sheffield is one of 152 established by the Department of Health to give local people a stronger voice in how their health and social care services are planned and delivered. Their role is to find out what people want, monitor local services and to use their powers to hold these services to account.

They are not a talking shop, they are a legal entity and have genuine powers to help bring about change. They can:

• demand information about health and social care service queries from providers and receive written responses to their questions within agreed timescales
• make recommendations to the Overview and Scrutiny Committees
• visit any health or social care premises that receive public funding to see what is going on there

In Sheffield the LINk is led by its members, through an elected Governing Board, with strategic and operational support from Voluntary Action Sheffield (VAS).

Anyone who lives in Sheffield or uses local health or social care services can be a member of Sheffield LINk. It is especially keen to encourage membership from young people and those in BME communities. 

There are lots of ways that people can becoem involved in the Sheffield LINk depending on your interests and committments. This could include:

• being kept up-to-date with what the LINk is doing
• taking part in an action group on a topic that interests you
• being an authorised representative who can visit local facilities
• giving your views in consultations and surveys
• proposing health and social care issues for the LINk to explore

View the LINk blog

For further information about Sheffield LINk or details about how to get involved please contact the support team on:

Tel: 0114 253 6690

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Visit: Sheffield LINk, The Circle, 33 Rockingham Lane, Sheffield S1 4FW