Who to contact if you are homeless
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Information Systems
In 2001, the Homeless Agency put in place a shared client database system, named LINK , to be used across the homeless sector. The LINK system is used to improve and develop services and their delivery within and across the homeless sector to clients and also to ensure they receive a continuum of care based on an accurate and up to date assessment of their needs. The system will track and share information between named agencies on key interventions and outcomes by recording in a single database specified and clearly defined information on clients and their use of services.
The Homeless Agency, the four Dublin Local Authorities, Health Service Executive and all homeless services will continue to develop more effective mechanisms to collect, collate and share information (subject to Data Protection) on individuals and families presenting as homeless to ensure more integrated service provision .
Role of the LINK system
The information recorded on the LINK system will be used to:
Improve service delivery
A shared information system for the homeless sector will enable agencies working directly with people who are homeless to record and share the work they do with their clients. This will improve the delivery of services to clients by ensuring that resources are used effectively by reducing duplication of effort and facilitating agencies to work together to provide a continuum of care and integrate service delivery.
Monitor the delivery of services
The LINK will allow individual projects to monitor the work they do and the work other projects do with a client, what they do and when they do it, the key outcomes from this work and its effectiveness. It will provide the Homeless Agency with the information necessary for the monitoring and evaluation of services.
Coordinate services
Support agencies to provide a better service to clients by sharing information and targeting their work.
Planning and development of services
The LINK system will provide statistics to projects about individual clients and the work of the project as a whole. This information can be used to plan future service developments.
The LINK system will provide the Homeless Agency with statistical information on the homeless population profile and use of services. This information will be used to monitor the effectiveness of the strategy, identify emerging trends and to monitor service delivery.
Information recorded on the LINK system
The information recorded on the system will be limited to information required to track and plan the delivery of services to clients. All information is recorded in line with the protocols developed by homeless services for the LINK system and Data Protection legislation.
How to Use LINK
This manual provides the introductory course on how to use the Dublin LINK system.
Train the Trainer
This manual provides the necessary information to allow an existing LINK user to train new LINK users.
Annotated Version of LINK Manual
This manual is an annotated version of the Introductory 'How to Use LINK' manual. People providing the Train the Trainer course should use this manual during the course, whilst providing the standard 'How to Use LINK' manual to trainees.
Reporting Features of Dublin Link
This manual explains the reporting features within Dublin LINK.