LINk structure
Structure and Governance
Northumberland LINk has agreed a governance structure that is inclusive and balanced. It achieves this by creating a broad and open membership, who can engage in a number of ways.
Membership
Individuals, groups and organisations can become members of the LINk. Any member can, from time to time, play a responsive, active or pro-active role within the LINk’s groups and activities.
To become a member view the Members page.
Northumberland LINk Chair
The current Chair of Northumberland LINk is Cynthia Atkin. The Chairs duties can be found here.
Steering Group
The LINk is overseen by a governing body called the Steering Group, with a membership of 16.
The role of the Steering Group is to:
- Oversee the strategic direction of the LINk and its activities including approval of its strategic plan, policies and procedures and annual report.
- Make decisions on the delegation of responsibility for detailed oversight of LINk activities to the Host or other LINk groups.
- Ensure that LINk members comply with its published policies and procedures
- Ensure good communications across the LINk and its groups and activities
- Identifying priority areas
- Approve formal recommendations made by thematic task groups.
More details about the steering group can be found here.
Thematic Task Groups
These groups made up of LINk members based on the priority issues. These meet up when necessary to discuss recurring themes and topics, have invited speakers and make recommendations. Issues and concerns are identified by liaison with the Host. Recommendations are made to the steering group.
Recent task group have included:
Pharmacy task group ……….
Transition task group ……..
Dual diagnosis task group ……….
Sustainability task group
The sustainability task group meets once a month and looks at all the issues that have been raised by LINk members and members of the public and considers what actions must be taken.
Terms of reference …..
Minutes………
Care Quality Commission Group
The care quality commission group (CQC) meets bi-monthly and oversees the Northumberland LINk during the transition to Healthwatch, ensuring close working with the CQC.
Terms of reference ……
Minutes …….
Partners’ Group
This group works towards encouraging networking between LINk’s health and social care organisational members, and to ensure that the LINk complements and adds value to concerns, priorities and plans for action that have been identified by members of such groups. Partners’ Group meetings and activities are open to LINK member VCS or private sector organisations that contribute to health and social care policy, practice and services within Northumberland. In the case of any formal decision making each organisation shall be represented by one voice. They also promote the LINk to organisation’s membership and act as a conduit for information and debate.
Liaison Group
Northumberland meet on a regular basis with representatives of the relevant public services and commissioners to share information and strengthen partnership working.
The Host
Northumberland LINk is hosted by Adapt NE. The host is responsible for the establishment, diversity of membership, support and maintenance of the governance arrangements. It provides high quality support and guidance to enable the LINk to carry out its on-going day-to-day activities.