Liverpool City Council - Developing a local involvement network for health and social care

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Developing a local involvement network for health and social care

Contact officer: Natalie Markham, project manager, Adult Services project team, Community Services

Tel: 0151 225 4964

Email: Natalie.Markham@liverpool.gov.uk 

Start date: 23 October 2007

End date: 31 March 2008

Purpose of the exercise:

It is a statutory Department of Health requirement that council's develop a local involvement network that will allow people to have a say in the development of local health and social care services. This network will replace the current patient and public health forums that are currently linked to specific NHS trusts or the PCT. This consultation exercise will help the council set up its network.

View more information on the local involvement network

Who was consulted and how:

The following were consulted:

  • elected members involved in health and social care
  • service users
  • people involved with the current patient and public health forums
  • voluntary and community workers
  • advocacy groups
  • service user forums for mental health, learning disabilties, physical and sensory impairment and older people service users

A number of consultation methods will be used, including:

  • a one day event in December 2007
  • information being made available via the LCC website (see link above)
  • press coverage
  • briefing notes
  • key stakeholders being involved in a multi-agency steering group

Who were the results of the exercise reported to:

The results were reported to the Health and Adult Social Care select committee.

What were the findings of the exercise:

The stakeholder event took place on 14 December 2007 and attended by 115 people. One of the questions they were asked was 'What works well now and what could be done better?', responses included:

  • There are good existing structures,involvement frameworks andsystems so don't lose them, enhance them

  • People need support to have a voice

  • Diversity needs to be promoted - imaginative fieldwork is needed

  • Good marketing and advertising

  • Need to make it easier, more convenient and more accessible to involve a wider range of peopleand smaller organisations

  • Needs to connect to a wide range of local activities

  • Need to work jointly with LINksand hosts in other areas

  • Should be service user led

 A report was written about the stakeholder event (PDF [382.5Kb] opens in new window) that contains further information on what was said at the event (this document was sent to all those who attended the event) and a summary was also published in the first LINks bulletin (PDF [166.9Kb] opens in new window).

What are the changes to the service brought about as a result of the consultation:

The feedback received at the stakeholder event has informed the service specification for the host organisation of the the new local involvement network. The multi-agency LINks steering group meets regularly to discuss transitional arrangements and the host organisation is expected to take up its contract on 1 September 2008. LINks bulletins will be produced bi-monthly to update stakeholders on progress. Visit the LINks web pages for further information on these.