Master Copy Hull Link Annual Report 0809

A Stronger Voice In Health And Social Care Services

Annual Report 1st April 2008 - 31st March 2009

Contents

Page Better Together

4

How Hull LINk Is Organised

5

Getting People Involved

10

Why Our Work Is Needed

12

What You Told Us

14

What We Did

16

What We Achieved and Next Steps

20

Income and Expenditure

21

Acknowledgements

23

Hull LINk Annual Report 2008/09

Page 3

Better Together Introduction I’m delighted to introduce our first annual report. Recent years have seen a number of changes to the ways in which local people are involved in the public services they receive. The introduction of Local Involvement Networks (LINks) presents both challenges and opportunities; challenges because we don’t want to lose the enthusiasm or valuable work of those involved in the outgoing Patient and Public Involvement Forums, and opportunities because we want to seize the potential of the new LINks and make the most of this chance to ensure that health and social care services truly reflect the needs and priorities of local people. Gabriel Doherty I’m pleased to say that in our first year Hull LINk has made Chair of Hull LINk considerable progress in ensuring that these challenges Steering Group and opportunities are met. The work of setting up the LINk involved many people and voluntary and community groups, both those with a background in this work but also several who were getting involved for the first time, and it’s been great to see such a lot of enthusiasm and interest in our work.

Looking ahead, now that the LINk is up and running our focus will shift towards following up on the priority issues identified by our members. Hull LINk has a crucial role to play in enabling the local community to speak with a stronger voice and the coming year will see a lot of activity to deliver this key aim. I hope you will join us in our work at this exciting time.

Gabriel Doherty, Chair of Hull LINk Hull’s Local Involvement Network

Centre 88 Saner Street Anlaby Road Hull HU3 2TR tel: 01482 221372 fax: 01482 221537 email: [email protected] website: www.hull-link.org.uk

Hull LINk Annual Report 2008/09

Page 4

How Hull LINk is Organised Background to LINks The Hull Local Involvement Network for Health and Social Care (hereinafter referred to as the LINk) brings together voluntary and community groups and individuals to enable them to have a stronger voice in improving health and social care services. The LINk is established for the benefit of the people of the Kingston upon Hull local authority area to carry out the following activities as defined by Section 221 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 as follows: a) promoting, and supporting, the involvement of people in the commissioning, provision and scrutiny of local care services; b) enabling people to monitor the standard of provision of local care services and whether, and how, services could/ought to be improved; and to review for those purposes, the commissioning and provision of local care services; c) obtaining the views of people about their needs for, and their experiences of, local care services; and d) making: i) views such as are mentioned in paragraph c) known, and ii) reports and recommendations about how local care services could or ought to be improved, to persons responsible for commissioning, providing, managing or scrutinising local care services. There are statutory powers the LINk has under the 2007 Act which will underpin its work: a) Request information from service commissioners and providers and receive a response within 20 working days. b) Submit reports and recommendation to service commissioners and providers on the results of LINk investigations and receive a response within 20 working days. c) Refer issues to Overview and Scrutiny Committees and get a response within 20 working days. d) Enter and view premises where publicly funded care is being provided and to do this the LINk will: i) seek people who would be interested to undertake visiting and develop a pool of trained visitors; ii) put in place a training programme for visiting; iii) develop a programme of visiting with reports back to the LINk Steering Group and any other group that would need to know the outcome; and iv) report back to relevant providers and commissioners.

Hull LINk Annual Report 2008/09

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The Hull LINk Structure

Hull LINk Steering Group This is the governing body that oversees the work of the LINk. Elected by the LINk membership in January 2009, the Steering Group’s role is to agree Hull LINk’s workplan, decide how its resources should be used and ensure that the LINk acts on the voice of the wider LINk membership. It comprises 7 individuals and 7 representatives of voluntary and community groups. One third of the Group will stand down each year and elections will be held to fill the vacancies created. The first meeting of the Group in February 2009 elected Gabriel Doherty and Chris Lefevre as Chair and Vice Chair respectively. They will serve for a year in office, in future the Chair and Vice Chair will be elected by the LINk membership at the AGM.

Members Individuals Sally Browne Chris Lefevre (Vice Chair) Ali Lovelock Jason Stamp

Hull LINk Annual Report 2008/09

Penny Stephenson Andy Train Vacancy Luana Smith (resigned March 2009)

Page 6

How Hull LINk is Organised Voluntary and Community Groups North Bank Forum Humber All Nations Alliance Carers Centre Hull Cornerhouse (Yorkshire) nCompass Hull Goodwin Development Trust Choices and Rights Disability Coalition

Wendy Bennett Gabriel Doherty (Chair) Judy May (until March 2009) Greg Harman (from April 2009) Tish Lamb Helen Laws Terry Quinn Karen Stretton

Full background details of the Steering Group including their declaration of interests can be viewed on the Hull LINk website under the ‘Who’s Who’ page.

Membership and LINk Forums • • • • •

Membership is open to both individuals and voluntary/community groups in Hull. Individuals can join if they live in Hull or live outside but use primary care services (GP’s, dentists, opticians) in the city. Groups can join if they are based in, or work in, Hull. LINk Members will receive information, attend events and vote and stand in elections to the LINk Steering Group. There will be lots of opportunities for people to give their views on issues and services. People and groups outside Hull can still get involved as LINk Associates, but cannot vote or stand in LINk elections. Quarterly LINk Forums will be held to enable people to feed in to the work of Hull LINk and to hear about the work of the Steering Group. These forums will be the main way to agree the LINk work plan priorities. One forum each year will be the AGM.

Task and Finish Groups/Sub-Groups • • •

Groups will be set up by the Steering Group to work on specific issues. Able to involve a wide range of people and call on specialist help where necessary. Task and Finish Groups will investigate and report on one-off issues based on priorities in the agreed workplan. More permanent Sub-Groups will focus on ongoing areas of work. Currently three members of the LINk Steering Group (Gabriel Doherty, Helen Laws and Jason Stamp) meet as a Finance and Personnel Sub-Group.

Hull LINk Interim Steering Group This group oversaw the early development of the LINk and agreed its governance framework. Set up by Hull CVS as host body, the group operated between July and December 2008, when it then stood down to be replaced by the elected LINk Steering Group in January 2009

Hull LINk Annual Report 2008/09

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Members Danny Brown Gabriel Doherty Graham Gedney Peter Kitson Tish Lamb Ali Lovelock Ruth Marsden Audrey Marshall Terry Quinn Penny Stephenson Karen Stretton Claire Thomas

Age Concern Humber All Nations Alliance Former PPI Member Independent Complaints and Advisory Service Cornerhouse (Yorkshire) North Bank Forum Former PPI Member Former PPI Member Goodwin Development Trust Former PPI Member Choices and Rights Disability Coalition Hull and East Yorkshire MIND

Transition Period Prior to Hull CVS being commissioned as the host body in July 2008, there was a transitional period starting in April 2008 which was designed to ensure that LINk activities took place while Hull City Council procured an organisation to host the LINk. During the transitional period the Council supported the establishment of a group which met up until the formation LINk Steering Group, to consider aspects of health and social care in relation to the legislative requirements and local issues for Hull. A work plan was agreed by the Transitional Group, on the 18th July 2008, which identified, amongst others, the following areas of work: • consultation on the changes to primary care and the development of polyclinics, supersurgeries, and integrated care centres, linked to concerns with the loss of ‘neighbourhood GP’ and loss of personal relationship with GP. • dentistry for adults with learning difficulties, complex needs, wheelchair access, individual care plans. Private providers. • information from GP’s on the services provided and prescriptions coupled with the availability of information from pharmacists • discharge of elderly, vulnerable patients, and the levels of social care provision at weekends in community • training of individuals to meet the requirements of the legislation to ‘enter and view’ services and premises The last meeting of the Transitional Group was held on the 12th September 2008, and it was agreed at the LINk Steering Group meeting on the 26th September that this should stand down having adopted Governance Arrangements and agreement to move towards establishment of the LINk on a formal basis. In addition, the Council and the Host Agency kept all of the Health and Social Care providers aware of the developing arrangements in relation to Local Involvement Networks, and the appointment of Hull CVS as the Host Agency.

Hull LINk Annual Report 2008/09

Page 8

The Host Following a competitive tendering process by Hull City Council, Hull Community and Voluntary Services Ltd (Hull CVS) were contracted on 7th July to provide host services for Hull LINk. As host, Hull CVS provides support to the LINk Steering Group, promotes the LINk, holds its budget and helps the LINk to find out people’s views on health and social care services. A registered charity, Hull CVS has over 25 years experience of supporting voluntary and community groups in Hull. Its services cover information, funding advice, volunteering and training.

Main Office: 29 Anlaby Road Hull HU1 2PG tel: 01482 324474 fax: 01482 580565 email: [email protected] website: www.hullcvs.org.uk Hull CVS Contact Details

LINk Office A LINk office has been set up at Centre 88 in Hull. Centre 88 is an independent charitable trust established in 1988 to provide office accommodation to a wide range of voluntary/community organisations in Hull. In addition the centre provides meeting facilities and printing services. The centre, which has a car park, is a short bus ride from the city centre, and is easily reached by road or rail. The centre is fully accessible for wheelchairs.

Hull LINk Office, Centre 88

Staff Team Three staff were employed by Hull CVS to support the LINk during 2008/9. They are: • • •

Steve Kimberley, LINk Manager Jonathan Appleton, LINk Engagement Worker Martin Craven, LINk Administrator

Governance Framework The Governance Framework for Hull LINk was approved on 26th September 2008. This sets out the detail of how Hull LINk is run, together with policies and procedures covering complaints/grievances; equal opportunities; code of conduct; conflicts of interest; elections and expenses. It also includes protocols covering the relationship with Hull CVS (host) and the City Council’s Health and Social Well-Being Overview and Scrutiny Commission. The Framework can be viewed on the LINk website and copies are available from the LINk office

Hull LINk Annual Report 2008/09

Page 9

Getting People Involved An ongoing task for Hull LINk is to recruit members, both individuals and voluntary and community groups. Signing up for membership ensures that people and groups are able to get involved in the LINk’s activities and are kept informed of the LINk’s work. Members can vote in elections for the LINk Steering Group, and are regularly consulted for their views, experiences and suggestions. Members can choose how they wish to be involved – either by commenting on issues when contacted, or by joining a working group, or standing for election to the Steering Group. What’s Your Issue? Forum It’s very important that the LINk establishes a thriving February 2009 base of members and that this reflects the make-up of Hull, with a diverse spread of men and women of different ages from different communities across the city. It’s particularly important that the LINk recruits people from excluded groups who often go unheard.

Since work began in July 2008 a number of methods have been used to recruit people to be part of the LINk. An early awareness raising exercise gained coverage in the local press and media. Information about the LINk can be found in places where people with an interest in health and social care will see it – doctors surgeries, dentists, hospitals, council customer service centres and libraries. The LINk website www.hull-link.org.uk has proved a popular way to keep up to date with the progress of the LINk, and enables people to feed in their views online.

What’s Your Issue? Forum February 2009

Members have signed up through a mailout via Hull CVS as host organisation, and public events and open days have introduced the LINk to the local community. Partner organisations such as North Bank Forum, Humber All Nations Alliance and DOC (Developing Our Communities) have kindly helped by publicising membership via their newsletters and websites. The LINk team have also spent time giving talks and presentations to groups of people interested in our work, such as users of the Carer’s Centre. Monthly members e-news bulletins/mailouts keep members informed of the LINk’s work and progress

Hull LINk Annual Report 2008/09

Page 10

Launch of Hull LINk Following four months of work to recruit members and adopt the LINk Governance Framework, Hull LINk was formally launched by Alan Johnson MP (the then Secretary of State for Health), Diana Johnson MP and the Bishop of Hull, the Right Reverend Richard Frith on 7th November 2008 at the Freedom Centre, Preston Road, Hull. Attended by over 100 people, the event also launched elections for the LINk Steering Group.

A video of the launch can be viewed on the Hull LINk website As at 31 March 2009 Hull LINk had 188 members, Alan Johnson MP pledges support comprised of 99 individuals, 77 voluntary and for Hull LINk alongside Diana community groups and 12 associates (non-voting Johnson MP, the Bishop of Hull Rt Rev Richard Frith and Steve members). Boosting membership is a priority for the Kimberley (Hull LINk Manager) LINk Steering Group during 2009/10 with particular goals covering increasing membership among BME (black and minority ethnic) communities; younger people and people with disabilities. The LINk will also seek to link into the City Council’s area committee and housing board structure and boost membership across the voluntary and community sector. Work to increase membership will also link into the membership and recruitment events planned by the three NHS Trusts (NHS Hull, Humber Mental Health, and Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals)

Hull LINk Annual Report 2008/09

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Why Our Work Is Needed Health and Social Care Issues in Hull Hull faces a number of challenges regarding health and social care. The city’s health profile is one of lower than average life expectancy, with high rates of illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, stroke and smoking related illness. Recent years have seen the NHS putting more resources into programmes promoting healthier lifestyles – for example, healthy eating, exercise and smoking cessation. Although Hull has a higher proportion of younger people than other similar sized cities, the national trend showing more people living into old age will become more pronounced in years to come – it is estimated that by 2028 41% of the city’s population will be aged over 50. It’s essential that policy makers address these trends to ensure that people are able to access the services they need to stay in control of their lives. NHS Hull, the city’s Primary Care Trust, commissions primary care services from GP practices, dentists, opticians and pharmacies, and secondary care services from NHS Trusts. A key priority for NHS Hull is the World Class Commissioning framework, which identifies 8 areas (stroke; coronary heart disease; diabetes; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; children and young people; mental health; cancer; and primary and community care) which will be the main focus of commissioning activity in the next five years. In October 2008 the independent Healthcare Commission rated NHS Hull ‘fair’ for quality of services and ‘fair’ for use of resources. Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust provides acute and specialist services in the Hull and East Riding area. The Trust’s long term goal is for Hull Royal Infirmary to become an emergency site and Castle Hill to be where all planned work is carried out. Current priorities include achieving the 18 week target for referral to treatment, sustained improvement in the regulator’s annual health check, and successfully winning Foundation Trust status. The most recent Healthcare Commission ratings stated the Trust’s quality of services was ‘good’ and use of resources was ‘fair’. Humber Mental Health NHS Teaching Trust provides services for people with mental health problems, learning difficulties and addictions. It also provides some specialist services including Forensic Mental Health and Child and Adolescent Mental Health. The Trust’s current priorities include increasing access to psychological therapy, improving learning disability services and achieving Foundation Trust status. October 2008 saw the Trust rated by the Healthcare Commission as ‘excellent’ for quality of services and ‘good’ for use of resources. Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust provides emergency access to healthcare and patient transfer services to people across Yorkshire and the north east. Current priorities include improving communication centres and meeting new Call Connect targets and the fleet expansion and replacement programme. Hull’s central ambulance station is to be replaced by two new facilities in the east and west of the city. In October 2008 the Healthcare Commission rated the Trust as ‘weak’ for quality of services and ‘fair’ for use of resources.

Hull LINk Annual Report 2008/09

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Kingston Upon Hull City Council’s Adult Services Directorate is responsible for adult social services. Many of the care services paid for by social services are bought from the independent and voluntary sectors. Priorities for the department include developing the personalisation agenda in social care and implementing key strategies such as the Older People’s strategy. In October 2008 the Commission for Social Care Inspection rated Hull’s delivery of outcomes as ‘good’ and capacity to improve as ‘promising’.

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Hull LINk Annual Report 2008/09

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What You Told Us Our launch event in November 2008 was a great opportunity for us to present the new LINk to the community and explain our role. It also gave us the chance to do some early work to identify what health and care issues people wanted to see us focus on. Attendees were asked to fill out comment cards with their top priority issues for Hull LINk. We followed this up with more activities to gather people’s views, including a survey on our website and via a mailout. All this work produced a considerable number of issues and demonstrated that people were quick to see the potential of the new LINk. These issues and comments were then grouped into 10 themes. To give the Steering Group an idea of which were the most pressing issues to the greatest number of people, an informal vote on people’s top 3 priorities from the 10 themes was held at the first LINk members forum in February, at which around 30 people attended. We also used our mailing list and website to let people who could not be present have their say. In total over 100 votes were cast.

What’s Your Issue? Forum February 2009

In March our Steering Group met to decide which issues would form the basis of the LINk workplan for 2009-10. The group felt that, presented with such a wide range of issues and taking account of resources and timescales, it was important to identify a number of key priorities as the main focus for LINk activity. The following table gives a summary of how the priority issues identified will be tackled. It’s important to stress that this is just the beginning of the process – the work of consulting with the local community will be ongoing, and as the LINk develops there will be plenty of opportunities for us to take more issues on board and develop the work plan further

Hull LINk Work Plan 2009/10 A. Priority Issues for LINk Investigation Hospital Discharge and Transfer of Care Policy Issue: Inadequate support on discharge. Policies not being followed. Information given to patients out of date. Mental Health Services for Young People Issue: Problems accessing services. Perception that young people’s problems are not taken seriously. Waiting Times for Cancer Treatment Issue: From diagnosis to start of treatment; waiting time when receiving treatment.

Task and Finish Sub-Groups are planned to be set up to investigate each issue, collect evidence and make a report with a set of recommendations for the relevant statutory bodies (NHS Trusts, City Council) to consider.

Hull LINk Annual Report 2008/09

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B. Issues for LINk to Influence Strategies/Service Reviews of NHS Trusts/Council though collecting views of service users/voluntary and community groups Dementia Care Issue: Poor care in residential homes. Lack of knowledge of how to care for people with dementia – not well understood by professionals or the wider community. Care at Home for Older People Issue: Home care services. Help for older people with non-social care priorities (e.g. socialising, befriending; shopping). Learning Disabilities – Access to Services Issue: Better access to health care for people with learning disabilities. Personalisation Agenda in Social Care Issue: Major culture change for care providers. Need for information and advice. Vulnerable adults will need protection against gaps in the individual budget agenda. Respite Care and Support for Carers Issue: Pressing need for short-term respite care for full time carers. Support for older carers caring for grown-up children.

For these issues the LINk will work with the relevant NHS Trust/City Council to inform people and groups of the planned reviews of these services and hold events to collect views as part of planned consultation processes.

C. LINk to support other voluntary groups leading on this issue Disabled Access to Premises Issue: Wheelchair access to health premises including GP surgeries and hospital wards. Need for more consultation with service users.

Hull LINk will discuss this issue with disability groups such as Choices and Rights Disability Coalition . Mental Health in BME Communities Issue: Perception that BME communities have been poorly served by mental health services and that need is going unmet.

HANA (Humber All Nations Alliance) have secured funding from the NHS Trusts for community development workers to investigate this issue. Hull LINk will receive quarterly progress reports from HANA and support the work as appropriate

Hull LINk Annual Report 2008/09

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What We Did Hull LINk Timeline 2008/9 1 April 2008

Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 comes into effect. (The legislation which creates LINks)

7 July 2008

Following competitive tender, Hull City Council appoints Hull CVS as the host body for Hull LINk. Contracts signed. LINk team appointed during July.

29 July 2008

Hull CVS convenes first meeting of Interim Steering Group to help set up the LINk. Group meets monthly until December 2008. Membership drive starts.

26 September 2008

Following consultation, Interim Steering Group approves LINk Governance Framework

7 November 2008

Launch of Hull LINk by Alan Johnson MP. Start of election process for LINk Steering Group. Consultation on work plan priorities begins.

5 December 2008

Interim Steering Group stands down. Protocol between Hull LINk and City Council Health and Well-Being Scrutiny Commission approved.

15 January 2009

Results of elections to LINk Steering Group announced.

4 February 2009

First meeting of elected LINk Steering Group. Chair and Vice Chair elected. Consultation on priorities ends. LINk members asked to vote on top 3 priorities from 10 issues.

10 February 2009

First LINk Members Forum receives update on progress and discuss and vote on top 3 issues for LINk to investigate.

18 March 2009

LINk Steering Group receives results of votes on priority issues and agrees work plan for 2009/10

Hull LINk Annual Report 2008/09

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Requests for Information from Health and Social Care Commissioners and Providers With the adoption of the 2009/10 LINk work plan on 18th March 2009, the Chief Executives of the four NHS Trusts (Hull PCT; Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals; Humber Mental Health; Yorkshire Ambulance Service) and the Head of Adult Services, Hull City Council were sent a copy of the work plan and invited to comment on their knowledge of the issue and on any service reviews planned in line with Department of Health guidance. Responses were received within 20 working days from the City Council and Hospital Trusts. A key task for 2009/10 is to now progress this request for information with the PCT, Mental Health and Ambulance Trusts as work starts on investigating the issues in the LINk work plan.

Healthcare Commission - Annual Health Check 2008/9 Hull LINk submitted a third party commentary in March 2009 to the four NHS Trusts (Hull PCT; Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals; Humber Mental Health; Yorkshire Ambulance Service) as evidence for the Healthcare Commission’s 2008/9 Annual Health Check. This assesses the performance of the Trusts over 2008/9. The commentary was based on a survey of LINk members’ experiences of the services they received, based on findings from a postal and online questionnaire. The survey was also advertised in the local press.

Working with Hull City Council’s Health and Social Well-Being Overview and Scrutiny Commission Following the adoption of the LINk/Scrutiny joint working protocol in December 2008, a number of issues have been referred by Scrutiny to the LINk Steering Group for possible investigation.

i. Hull PCT - Draft Patient and Public Involvement Strategy Scrutiny and the Interim LINk Steering Group considered the draft Strategy in December 2008 and raised issues concerning the lack of reference to the role of Hull LINk in the Strategy, and broader questions relating to how the PCT’s membership scheme relates to the LINk. The PCT responded that the Strategy is to be revised completely given developments with their membership model. Further information is awaited.

Hull LINk Annual Report 2008/09

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ii. Relocation of Ear, Nose and Throat Services from Hull Royal Infirmary to Castle Hill Hospital The LINk Steering Group requested information on 25 February 2009 from Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust regarding the results of the public consultation on this relocation and concerns around transport and accessibility to Castle Hill for residents of Hull. In response the Trust stated that when this relocation was considered by the East Riding of Yorkshire and Hull City Council Scrutiny Commissions, they decided further public consultation was not needed. The Trust has invited the LINk to address a multi agency group looking at access and transport issues, and also separately discuss how the LINk can engage in the Trusts’ service and capital development plans in a more timely and meaningful way.

iii. Hospital Discharge and Transfer of Care Policy Following Scrutiny suggesting this as a possible issue for the LINk to investigate, this has been incorporated into the 2009/10 Workplan.

iv. Hull City Council’s Draft Physical and Sensory Disability Strategy Following referral from Scrutiny, the LINk Steering Group requested further information from the City Council, Head of Adult Services on the development of the Strategy. The Council invited LINk to participate in the Strategy’s development, but despite a follow up letter accepting this request, no further information has been received within the 20 day deadline.

v. Draft Dementia Care Strategy Requests from Scrutiny and the LINk Steering Group were made to the City Council’s Head of Adult Services in March 2009 for the LINk to be involved in the development of the Strategy. However no information has been received within 20 working days of the request.

vi. Joint Commissioning Event For 2009/10 a joint event between Scrutiny and the LINk Steering Group is planned to inform members of plans for future commissioning of health and social care services.

Hull LINk Annual Report 2008/09

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Enter and View Emphasis during 2008/9 has been on setting up the LINk and approving a work plan for 2009/10. Although no health and care premises were entered and viewed in 2008/9, plans were put in place to deliver this aspect of the LINk’s work. The LINk Steering Group are currently developing clear policies and procedures for selecting and training authorised enter and view representatives in 2009/10. These policies and procedures will be based on advice and a code of conduct developed by the Department of Health.

LINk and NHS Trust Membership Schemes The development of Hull LINk has coincided with: • •

Membership drives by both the Hospital and Mental Health Trusts as part of their plans to apply for Foundation Trust status. Hull PCT’s development of a membership model to give people and groups a greater say in local health services.

This has caused some confusion amongst voluntary and community groups and individuals about which organisation they should join. Hull LINk has over 2008/9 worked with the Trusts to start to co-ordinate membership and recruitment activity, and stress how the LINk differs to the Trust’s membership schemes, in that the LINk: • • •

covers health and social care services is an independent body run by its members to improve services for the public, its members has statutory powers to influence the commissioning, provision and scrutiny of health and social care services

Joint planning and recruitment drives will continue in 2009/10

Hull LINk Annual Report 2008/09

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What We Achieved and Next Steps Much of our time in this first year has inevitably focussed on setting up and establishing the new LINk. Regulations governing LINks require that various policies and procedures are in place, so a lot of the time at meetings of our Steering Group was taken up with these matters. With our first year now concluded, it’s a good time both to reflect on what has been achieved so far and to look ahead to plans for the future.

In summary, 2008-09 has seen: • • • • • • •

The new Hull LINk set up within the agreed time frame, becoming operational well before the Government’s deadline for the end of the transitional phase. The Steering Group, the body that oversees our work, elected, functioning well and taking key decisions on the direction of the LINk. Hull LINk’s Governance Framework, the document setting out how the LINk will function, agreed and published. Mechanisms put in place for local people and groups to contribute to our work and have their voices heard. Events, meetings, the LINk website and engagement work has all enabled people to get involved. Almost 200 members recruited, all of whom have been kept informed of our progress and have had the chance to influence the LINk’s work. Hull LINk taking part in the Healthcare Commission’s Annual Health Check, which analyses and rates the performance of local NHS Trusts. Hull LINk getting involved in a number of external events designed to ensure that issues of local concern are highlighted, including a major national event examining sexual health at the KC Stadium in March 2009.

Looking ahead, 2009-10 will see: •

•

• • • •

Hull LINk exercising its statutory powers focussing on investigating the priority issues identified in the 2009/10 workplan. This will involve requests for information, submitting reports and recommendations to those responsible for commissioning and delivering services, and where necessary referring issues to the City Council Scrutiny Commission for further investigation. Recruitment and training of Hull LINk’s first Enter and View Visitors, volunteer members who will be able, under authorisation from the Steering Group, to visit, observe and report on services as they are delivered in line with issues in the LINk workplan. Regular events and forums where people will be able to come together to explore LINk priorities, share views and experiences, and influence the work of the LINk. Developing a strong relationship with the Care Quality Commission - the new health and social care regulator. Developing stronger links with other LINks in the region - particularly the East Riding of Yorkshire LINk - to look at cross boundary issues. Recruiting more members to the LINk - working with the NHS Trusts - whilst stressing how the LINk differs to their membership schemes.

Hull LINk Annual Report 2008/09

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Income and Expenditure Hull LINk Income and Expenditure 2008-09 Income

£

Money Received from Hull City Council

158,000

£

Spend to 31/3/09 £

1) Staffing, Administration, Overheads Staffing Administration Overheads Total

93,429 4,500 11,000 108,929

93,429 4,500 11,000 108,929

0 0 0 0

2) Management, Training, Supervision Management Charge Staff Training/Supervision Total

16,500 1,000 17,500

16,500 1,000 17,500

0 0 0

2,000 6,000 8,000

420 0 420

1,580 6,000 7,580

5,500 4,000 6,000 15,500

2,927 4,878 7,195 15,000

2,573 (878) (1,195) 500

7,496

0

7,496

157,425

141,849

15,576

Expenditure

3) LINk Participation Expenses Volunteer Expenses Volunteer Travel/Training Total 4) LINk Communication Costs Events/Meeting Costs Newsletters/Mailouts Marketing/Promotion Total 5) Reserves held for development, outreach work Reserves Total 1 - 5

Hull LINk Annual Report 2008/09

Budget

Balance £

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Notes to Budget a) Staffing costs cover salaries, national insurance, pension and travel costs b) Overheads cover office rent, telephones, internet and ICT equipment c) LINk volunteer expenses cover travel costs for LINk Steering Group members to attend meetings/conferences d) LINk Communication costs: i) Events/meetings cover costs for LINk Forums and the LINk launch in November 2008 ii) Marketing/promotion covered design and setting up of the LINk website, and printing of LINk leaflets and promotional material (pens, posters, carrier bags) iii) Newsletter/mailouts covered postage and printing costs of information to LINk members and general promotional mailouts Following discussions between the LINk Steering Group and Hull CVS Trustees the end of year balance of £15,576 is rolled over into the 2009-10 budget to be used by the LINk Steering Group for LINk activities and to deliver the contractual obligations as set out by Kingston upon Hull City Council.

Hull LINk Annual Report 2008/09

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Acknowledgements Hull LINk would like to thank everyone who has been involved in our work in our first year. Want to get involved? Find out more… Contact the LINk Team Telephone: Email us at: Visit our website:

01482 221372 [email protected] www.hull-link.org.uk

Hull LINk Annual Report 2008/09

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Hull’s Local Involvement Network

Centre 88 Saner Street Anlaby Road Hull HU3 2TR tel: 01482 221372 fax: 01482 221537 email: [email protected] website: www.hull-link.org.uk