Forum

Transfer of existing service users to personal budgets

Hi,

I read with curiosity the recent item in the DPUN newsletter about TESU (Transfer of Existing Service Users to personal budgets). I am wondering if anyone knows more about what this means in practice for those of us who are currently on Direct Payments? I hope I will not have to go through any bureaucracy or hype as I am perfectly happy with my package the way it is. Last time I tried to go onto individual budgets (as they were called then - Individual Budgets/Personal Budgets/SDS - can't they fix the name?) - it was promoted to me as a wonderful way of receiving more flexible support; I put quite a lot of effort and hope into writing my support plan, was asked what my goals etc were, only to be told nothing could change. The change I wanted to make was not asking for more money, but would have made a big difference at the time but I wasn't allowed to do it as it was categorised as mental health and ILF would not play ball.

So I am sticking with my package the way it is and I don't want anything to change - does anyone know what TESU means for the user? I may contact the relevant person mentioned in the newsletter but wondered first if anyone here knew anything.

Catherine