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1542986

	registered interest
	date	16/11/2022
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 7 November 2022 to Question 80819, how many times his Department visited assessment centres to help audit the performance of providers in each year from 2015 to 2022.
	tabling member constituency	Edmonton
	tabling member printed	Kate Osamor
	uin	88965
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2022 answer text <p>The information requested is not available. We have a stringent performance management regime which includes Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) performance managers attending assessment centres; however, data for such visits is not retained.</p><p> </p><p>Provider performance is measured across a range of service level agreements setting out the department's expectations for service delivery. These include quality, performance delivery targets and customer experience.</p><p> </p><p>Independent Audit is one of the department’s tools to measure quality for performance management purposes. It is a self-contained team comprising of experienced health professional assessors who review a sample of assessment reports on a monthly basis to determine their quality. This helps ensure that assessment reports are fit for purpose, clinically justified, and provide sufficient information for the department to make a reasonable decision on entitlement to benefit. It is not an audit of the assessment provider as a whole.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 21/11/2022 17:08:36 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4515 label Biography information for Kate Osamor

1542987

	registered interest
	date	16/11/2022
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 7 November 2022 to Question 80819 on Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations, if he will publish the results of the last audit of Health Assessors; Capita and Independent Assessment Services.
	tabling member constituency	Edmonton
	tabling member printed	Kate Osamor
	uin	88966
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2022 answer text <p>We currently have no plans to publish the last audit results for Capita and Independent Assessment Services (IAS).</p><p>Referring to our previous answer to PQ80819, audit refers to a comprehensive check of the elements of the assessment, including the evidence collection, further evidence provided, and the assessment report completed by the health professional. It is not an audit of the assessment provider.</p><p>Provider performance is measured across a range of service level agreements (SLA) setting out the department's expectations for service delivery. These include quality, performance delivery targets and customer experience.</p><p>The monthly quality audit performance against the SLA target for Capita and IAS has already been published for January 2014 to April 2022 as part of the answer to <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-06-27/26035" target="_blank">PQ26035</a>.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 21/11/2022 17:04:25 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4515 label Biography information for Kate Osamor

1540031

	registered interest
	date	07/11/2022
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how often her Department visits health assessment centres in person to audit the performance of assessment providers.
	tabling member constituency	Edmonton
	tabling member printed	Kate Osamor
	uin	80819
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2022 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) does not have a contractual obligation to perform regular visits to assessment centres, but does retain the right to visit any assessment centre, at any time, subject to reasonable notice. The department exercises this right, with Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Work Capability Assessment (WCA) performance managers visiting assessment centres on an informal basis.</p><p> </p><p>The department has set standards for the quality of assessments for all its assessment providers and independent auditors. The department ensures a high standard is maintained by having an independent audit function that continually monitors performance and provides feedback to its providers. Audit refers to a comprehensive check of the elements of the assessment, including the evidence collection, further evidence provided, and the assessment report completed by the health professional.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 14/11/2022 14:55:24 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4515 label Biography information for Kate Osamor

1540028

	registered interest
	date	07/11/2022
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 1 November to Question 72384, if he will publish the training material which is shared between assessment providers.
	tabling member constituency	Edmonton
	tabling member printed	Kate Osamor
	uin	80818
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2022 answer text <p>Although assessment providers share training material between themselves to encourage best practice, we have no plans to publish the training material.</p><p> </p><p>The department introduced a Clinical Governance Quality Standards (CGQS) Framework to ensure that consistent quality standards are applied by all assessment providers. The CGQS Forum has the remit to facilitate embedding of the CGQS Framework across the department and its assessment providers. They share best practice including training and learning from leading national and international organisations, to continuously improve quality.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 14/11/2022 14:53:13 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4515 label Biography information for Kate Osamor

1540027

	registered interest
	date	07/11/2022
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 1 November to Question 72384, if she will publish her Department's audit procedures for assessment providers.
	tabling member constituency	Edmonton
	tabling member printed	Kate Osamor
	uin	80817
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2022 answer text <p>Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment provider audit procedures can be found in sections 3.4 and 3.5 of the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers" target="_blank">PIP assessment guide.</a></p><p> </p><p>Details relating to the audit procedures for Centre for Health and Disability Assessments can be found in schedule 2.1 section 40 of the <a href="https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/9bdd9fa5-0a4c-4484-a853-702b9683db80" target="_blank">Health and Disability Assessment Services contract.</a></p><p> </p><p /> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 14/11/2022 14:49:06 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4515 label Biography information for Kate Osamor

1540032

	registered interest
	date	07/11/2022
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many health professionals employed by assessment providers have been dismissed as a result of poor performance in the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Edmonton
	tabling member printed	Kate Osamor
	uin	80820
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2022 answer text <p>Health Professionals (HPs) are subject to a rigorous recruitment process, followed by a comprehensive training programme. Given the high standards expected of HPs, it is anticipated that a number may not meet the required standard during the training and probation period.</p><p> </p><p>All HPs are subject to on-going monitoring of the standard of their assessments. If any issues are identified there is a process in place to support the HPs to improve the quality of their assessments. Where they fall below the required standards and do not improve, processes are in place to revoke their approval to undertake assessments.</p><p> </p><p>The number of HPs employed by assessment providers who have been dismissed as a result of poor performance in the last three years is shown in the table below:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Provider</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2020</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2021</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2022</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Capita (Personal Independence Payment - PIP)</strong></p></td><td><p>17</p></td><td><p>30</p></td><td><p>39</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Independent Assessment Services (IAS) (PIP)</strong></p></td><td><p>76</p></td><td><p>61</p></td><td><p>69</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA)</strong></p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>9</p></td><td><p>9</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong>Please note</strong></p><p> </p><ul><li>Capita 2022 figures are for the period between 1 January 2022 and 4 November 2022;</li><li>IAS 2022 figures are for the period between 1 January 2022 and 4 November 2022;</li><li>CHDA 2022 figures are for the period between 1 January 2022 and 1 November 2022;</li><li>PIP figures include HPs that were dismissed during their training and probation period;</li><li>PIP figures do not include employees who resigned during the training process;</li><li>CHDA figures include HPs that were dismissed during their probation period;</li><li>CHDA figures do not include HPs that failed to successfully complete their training period, nor those who resigned during the training process.</li></ul><p> </p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 14/11/2022 14:43:39 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4515 label Biography information for Kate Osamor

1537107

	registered interest
	date	28/10/2022
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what weight his Department gives to consultants and other clinical leads assessments of their patients' conditions when decision makers are considering awards of benefit.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	73856
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2022 answer text <p>Decision makers give due consideration to all evidence, including that from clinicians, when making decisions on benefit assessments.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 03/11/2022 11:50:12 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1537108

	registered interest
	date	28/10/2022
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to employ clinical specialists to assess people with (a) neurological conditions and (b) other complex conditions to make social security assessments.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	73857
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/11/2022 answer text <p>The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments are functional assessments which consider the effects of a health condition or impairment on a person’s functional ability, rather than focusing solely on the health condition or impairment itself.</p><p> </p><p>The department does not believe it is necessary for the provider to employ health professionals (HPs) who are specialists in the specific conditions or impairments of the individuals they are assessing. Instead, assessment providers are required to ensure that all WCA and PIP HPs are trained to become experts in disability analysis, with knowledge of the clinical aspects and overall functional effects of a wide range of health conditions and impairments. Additionally, HPs complete training on neurological and complex conditions and have access to a range of resources to research any conditions presented.</p><p> </p><p>The department is committed to improving its services and works continuously with providers to improve the assessment process. The ‘Shaping future support: the health and disability green paper,’ explored how the welfare system can better meet the needs of claimants now and in the future. We are considering all the responses to the green paper proposals and what future policy changes might look like. These will be set out in the white paper in the coming months.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 02/11/2022 14:15:17 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1536295

	registered interest
	date	26/10/2022
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to improve the quality of health assessments made by private health assessment companies.
	tabling member constituency	Edmonton
	tabling member printed	Kate Osamor
	uin	72384
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/11/2022 answer text <p>Assessment quality is a priority for both the department and the assessment providers. We work continuously with providers to drive improvements in assessment quality through a range of measures, including audit procedures, clinical observations (Personal Independence Payment only), clinical coaching, tailored training and development plans, and providing feedback and support to health professionals. Quality performance is also regularly reviewed through DWP and provider senior governance meetings at a national level, and in each of the provider areas.</p><p> </p><p>Providers share training materials between themselves to encourage best practice, standardise processes and improve the claimant experience. They also regularly engage with medical experts, charities, and relevant stakeholders to strengthen, maintain, and update their training programmes. <br> <br> The department is currently developing a Health and Disability White Paper, which will include health and disability benefit reform proposals, and improvements to the customer journey, enabling people to live independently and move into work where possible.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 01/11/2022 15:31:23 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4515 label Biography information for Kate Osamor

1507910

	registered interest
	date	23/09/2022
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the process is for a claimant who wishes to complain about a health assessment related to their benefit.
	tabling member constituency	Edmonton
	tabling member printed	Kate Osamor
	uin	55085
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/10/2022 answer text <p>Assessment providers (APs) have their own complaints process to deal with dissatisfaction about the service they provide. Complaints about the health assessment are directed to the provider, unless it is a mixed complaint concerning the service provided by both the department and the AP. Mixed complaints are handled by the department.</p><p> </p><p>The three APs, <a href="https://www.capita-pip.co.uk/en/contact-us#Complaint" target="_blank">Capita</a> and <a href="https://www.mypipassessment.co.uk/feedback/" target="_blank">Independent Assessment Services</a> (IAS) for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and <a href="https://chdauk.co.uk/about-us/contact-us/" target="_blank">Centre for Health and Disability Assessments</a> (CHDA) for Work Capability Assessments (WCA), each have webpages explaining how claimants can contact them directly to make a complaint.</p><p> </p><p>AP complaints are investigated by a customer relations manager or a case officer, who obtains all relevant evidence to inform a balanced and appropriate reply. If deficiencies are identified, they apologise and advise the department where this may have a bearing on the entitlement decision. This is known as a Tier 1 complaint response.</p><p> </p><p>If a claimant is dissatisfied with the investigation and outcome of a Tier 1 complaint this can be looked at afresh by a senior manager who will review the initial investigation and obtain further evidence if appropriate. The outcome is then conveyed to the claimant by the AP and is referred to as a Tier 2 complaint response.</p><p> </p><p>If, following Tier 1 and 2 of the complaints process, the claimant is still dissatisfied, they can contact the Independent Case Examiner (ICE) to look at their complaint.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Claire Coutinho question first answered 11/10/2022 16:01:09 answering member 4806 label Biography information for Claire Coutinho
	tabling member	4515 label Biography information for Kate Osamor