The way that each Local Involvement Network (LINk) produces its annual report is due to change for this reporting year 2012-13.
Having sought the views of key groups, the Department of Health (DH) intend to ask LINks to produce a report containing all the information required in the annual report for the period April to October only.
DH will seek to amend the Directions on Matters to Be Addressed in LINk Annual Reports 2008 so that a report covering all matters is required for the period April to October 2012, with a final report for the full year (in effect from November 2012 to March 2013) covering only those matters set out in the Act and the first four Matters in the Directions.
To summarise, LINks are asked to:
- produce a report containing all the information required in the annual report for the period April to October only, for publication by the end of December 2012
- to include information on local preparations for Healthwatch and share a copy of this report with Healthwatch England
- (once directions have been amended) prepare a final report for the full year – from November 2012 to March 2013 (by 30 June or earlier) and cover only those matters set out in the Act and the first four Matters in the Directions. Eg:
- contact details for the LINk and the Host
- financial information
- names of individuals who have been authorised representatives and/or involved in making relevant decisions
Over the next couple of months, the Healthwatch Team will work with partners to produce information to support LINks and hosts to produce these reports.
For more information, please read the full briefing: