Face to Face assessments on Radio 4

NeilB

Hi, was wondering if anyone might be interested in listening to this Radio 4 program about face to face assessment. Was on the other night, it’s about the last eight minutes of the program.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0977v82

CockneyRebel

Thanks for posting the link

CR

steve51

Hi @NeilB

Many thanks for the link\post !!!!!!

Thanks.

Geoark

Hello @NeilB and welcome to the community.

I am sorry to hear the problems you have been having with PIP. As shocking as, some of the figures were in the show they are not new, ie around 80% rejection at the assessment stage and mandatory reconsideration. ESA and PIP were introduced to reduce the amount being paid on disability benefits, mandatory reconsideration was introduced with the intention to reduce the numbers going appeal, not to ensure a fair system. While it was successful in reducing the numbers going to appeal it has not reduced the success rate when people do appeal.

Regarding recording assessments, if the person had been caught recording, whatever the motive, the assessment would have been stopped and they would have lost the claim. It is interesting that the DWP are trialling recording all PIP assessments. The government will no longer be able to rely on outright lies from assessors to justify turning people down who need the support.

Good luck with you appeal.

NeilB

Hello Geoark thanks for your support and reply,

Ive never experience anything like its horrendously shocking, Ive never claimed anything or any benefit upto a few months ago when my company sick pay finished.
Have been working on my appeal today, got most of ready am just waiting for my appointment at CAB. Am going to let them vet everything before its sent off.
Will be a great if and when they implement the recordings at face to face assessments basically my mandatory reconsideration was ignored and the lady kept referring back to the face to face assessment to make her decisions, it was a complete waist of time.

Neil 

Sam_Alumni

Thanks for sharing @NeilB

NeilB

Was a pleasure, this appeared on the BBC news this morning.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-41581060

CockneyRebel

Very interesting
However, two points raised in both reports are not  acurate

You do not need the expensive duel recorders. Two relatively cheap cassette recorders with external mics are acceptable  to record the assessment and fulfill the DWP requirement.

The quoted 80% failure related to a specific condition and is not consistant accross all assessments.

CR
 

NeilB

Hi CockneyRebel,
thanks for your reply, my understanding of this from ATOS lititure states that the recordings must be identical, wether this be from CD or cassette.
Thats why equipment of this nature must be used to make two identical recordings for both parties.

Neil

CockneyRebel

Neil as stated it is acceptable to run two cassette recorders simultaniously but make sure you use new ,unopened cassettes

CR

NeilB

Thanks for the carcasum, you know exactly what I meant from my comment, they can’t be identical if they are made on different pieces of equipment.

CockneyRebel

Not being sarcastic, stating the facts of what is acceptable

CR

NeilB

May I ask who you work for, ATOS, DWP or Capita.

NeilB

As I said they can’t be identical if they are made on separate machines.

CockneyRebel

From the Gov's PIP assessment guide

To record their consultations, claimants must use appropriate

equipment that can provide two copies of the recording in such a

way that the provider can be assured that the recording has not

been tampered with and is a reliable and accurate record of the

consultation. A copy must be given to the provider at the end of the

consultation. For this reason certain devices that have the capability

of editing, real-time streaming or video recording the session are not

approved,such as computing devices (not limited to PCs, tablets,

smart phones, MP3 players) or devices that are not capable of

providing a verifiable media copy that can be easily verified during

the assessment. Media types that are acceptable are standard CD

and audio tapes only.

In the spirit of this forum and to keep things friendly I will not comment further

CR

icecream

wouldnt this now its been allowed to be used ,open the door for anyone doing the same, whats good for one etc ,