Hello - I've not posted on this board before, but have been on MN for a while and wondered if I could pick your brains?
I am writing an essay for college about people's experiences with the personalisation agenda and direct payments. I wondered if any of you and/or people that you care for were in receipt of or eligible for direct payments for PAs etc
how you feel about employing people directly
how PAs affect life with your family at home
what you thought about 'personalisation' as a concept
if you have been offered direct payments but have turned them down
any thoughts you might have really.
The other point is about social workers and how they can help make the direct payments/personalisation most effective. At a recent group I went to, the consensus was that a named social worker will know a client well and help source the right support once s/he has the money, but with the cuts, not many people have these any more.
(Just for the record, this is not the only research I am doing! I was on MN whilst having a break and thought it would be worth asking you as you may have some new perspectives.)
Hope no-one feels I'm intruding. Just ignore if so.
Thanks.