Bread Crumbs

• Home >
• VAB services >
• Participation Team

Participation Team/Local Involvement Network (LINk)

PLEASE NOTE The Barnsley Participation Process which was managed by Voluntary Action Barnsley (also known as the VAB Participation Team) came to an end recently due to cessation of funding.  We would like to thank those of you who have worked with us for your support and we hope you have found the information we have provided to be of use to you in your work.  Should you have any future queries around participation matters for providers of Health & Social Care services, please direct them to Joint Commissioning, Adult Social Services on 01226 770770. 

The Adult Service Provider Network, Children’s Service Information Network and the Voluntary & Community Sector Sub Group to the Children's Trust Board still exist but we are reviewing how VAB can deliver these services in the future. VAB will keep you updated with any progress.

Local Involvement Network (LINk)

A Local Involvement Network (LINk) is made up of individuals and community groups who work together to improve local health and social care services. The job of the LINk is to find out what people like and dislike about local services, and to work with the people who plan and run them to help make them better.
A LINk asks local people what they think of local health and social care and gives them a chance to suggest ideas to care professionals which may help improve services. A LINk can also ask for information about services and get answers within a specified amount of time.

Membership is open to everyone and there are many good reasons for getting involved, including:

• Influencing those who make decisions about new or existing Health & Social Care services;
• Helping services provide better care;
• Helping the community speak a stronger local voice.

The VAB Participation Team has a dedicated LINk Development Officer who can be contacted on the number stated at the bottom of the page. Alternatively
strong>For more information please visit the www.barnsleylink.co.uk

Read on for more detailed information about some of the activities which we co-ordinate:

Adult Health & Social Care Provider Network

The Provider Network consists of voluntary and community organisations working in Barnsley and links directly to the Planning & Commissioning Unit for Adult Health and Social Care. The Provider Network is a forum for information sharing and consultation with the aim of ensuring everyone is aware of local opportunities and developments that may impact upon their work. Members receive information regularly by e-mail.

Provider Forum events are held to bring together guest speakers of interest to those working in the sector and to give the opportunity for people to get involved in consultations in the Health & Social Care field. By facilitating the Provider Forums, we also aim to give attendees the chance to network, build effective working relationships and share good practice with organisations with similar goals.

Members of the Provider Network have the opportunity to become actively involved in work streams and multi-agency partnerships in order to develop and evaluate local services. Representatives from the Provider Network are nominated to the various statutory decision making boards within the borough.

For more details about the Provider Network, or to ask about ways in which VCS providers can get involved and have a voice in service planning in Barnsley

Back to Top

Children's Services Information Network

Safeguarding is the most important issue for any organisation working with children and young people.  Since the tragic death of Victoria Climbie and the subsequent recommendations of the Laming Report, the Government have put legislation in place aimed at keeping children and young people safe from harm - Children Act (2004) and best practice guidance ‘Working Together to Protect Children' (2006).

All organisations should have:

• Adequate safeguarding policies and procedures for dealing with concerns;
• Safe recruitment processes for both employees and volunteers, including CRB checks and compliance with Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) regulations;
• A clear statement of the organisation's responsibility to share information relevant to the safeguarding of children.  All staff/volunteers should be aware of this statement and their personal responsibility relating to it, including obtaining of consent where appropriate.

In addition to the above, all staff and volunteers should have completed at least a basic Child Protection Course and have knowledge of the organisation's Child Protection Policy & Procedures.

Integrated working is one of the main elements of helping to safeguard children & young people in Barnsley.  The Barnsley Safeguarding Unit, the Local Authority and VAB are committed to supporting the VCS with the safeguarding agenda and there are many forms of advice, information and resources that can help.  These include:

• Access to training courses, either locally or regionally, but also electronic (web based) courses;
• Access to a range of ‘on-line' resources.

Useful contacts and sources of information:
Barnsley Safeguarding Unit: www.safeguardingchildrenbarnsley.com
National Safeguarding Unit: www.safenetwork.org.uk

Back to Top

Voluntary & Community Sector Sub Group to the Children's Trust Board

Monthly meetings of this group bring together VCS providers of services for Children & Young People, in order to share ideas and good practice, voice concerns and feed issues into the local decision making mechanism of the Trust Board. There is an e-mail network for people who would like to be involved but are unable to attend the meetings. If you would like to attend the Sub Group meetings or be added to the e-mail network, please contact us on the number stated at the bottom of the page.

Back to Top