Sandwell Council has appointed Black Country Housing Group as the host for Sandwell LINk. Commenting on the appointment the group’s Chief Executive Sandra Spence said: "We are looking forward to supporting this new era of patient and public involvement in Sandwell.  We will build upon our experience of community involvement to provide a first class service as the Host to the LINk."

Local authorities with a social care responsibility are required to commission an organisation that will support or host the LINk. The task of the host is to set up and develop the LINk and then to provide practical support the LINk needs. This new way of working will help the LINk to establish an independent network, which will develop its own ways of working under the new law.

Sandwell Council has appointed Black Country Housing Group as the host for Sandwell LINk. Commenting on the appointment the group’s Chief Executive Sandra Spence said: "We are looking forward to supporting this new era of patient and public involvement in Sandwell. We will build upon our experience of community involvement to provide a first class service as the Host to the LINk."

Membership of the LINk will be open to both individual people and organisations. Black Country Housing Group’s Director of

Community Regeneration Elemay Parkes said: "We expect that members will want to be involved in different ways. Some members will want to be involved in planning and running the LINK while others may only want to get involved in areas of particular interest to them." We will shortly be finding out more about what people want from LINks and how they’d like to be involved."

The process of contracting for a host organisation has been supported by a steering group made up of local stakeholder including, members of NHS patient forums, Voluntary and Community Sector leads, NHS Trusts and Sandwell Council. Head of Sandwell’s Joint Policy Unit, Alan Dean said: "To have a host in place by 1 May is a real achievement and I’d like to thank everyone involved for their commitment to making it happen. I’d especially like to thank the LINks steering group for the support they have given the officers involved in developing the contract and to the Patient Forum members for their guidance and dedication."

If you would like more information about LINks or are thinking of becoming a member contact the Black Country Housing Group on 0121 561 1969

For more information about LINks view www.webwell.org.uk/LINKs or go to http://www.dh.gov.uk/