Face to face consultations - recording your interview

Shnagglepop

I am trying to help set up something to help people who wish to record their face to face interviews, i am aware that most interviews are currently taking place online or on the phone but i want to be set up and ready for when F2F becomes the norm again. I need to know what devices you are allowed to record on? I know it has to be cassette tape or CD but i need to know, can you record on two seperate devices or does it need to be a singular device that can record two tapes/CDs at the same time? Thankyou 

Shnagglepop

Thankyou I'll have a read though that is about ESA , i tried calling the PIP line and I was told by them that currently all assessments are done by phone or over webcam, which is why i wrote that. I still plan to try to set something up so that people can borrow the recording devices if they want to. I think it will be helpful as i was unaware i could even record until after my assessment so i hope to help people if I can. 

johnnyy85

do you think recording puts pressure on the assesor ? 

Shnagglepop

No I just think that having evidence if you need a mandatory reconsideration is a good idea. I have heard from many sources that their award improved due to recording their assessment.

I want to help other people to have a fighting chance during their MR, when they can't afford the tape recorders and tapes etc 

poppy123456

HI,

Having had mutliple ESA and PIP assessments i'd prefer to concentrate on filling out my form with all the information, than think about recording the assessment. It's bad enough just thinking about the assessment on the day without having to worrying about recording it, my stress levels would be through the roof and i'd be so flustered i'd forget what i want to say. So for me, no thanks, i wouldn't record the assessment.

Of course it's entirely up to the individual person whether they choose to record it.

Shnagglepop

Exactly and their are people who would like it not like I can make em contact me xD if someone doesn't like the idea they won't search for it x

Shnagglepop

I am a wheelchair userauser part of many communities online with other disabled people who have discussed the topic with me when I've asked the question. 

chiarieds

@Shnagglepop - It seems there is already a scheme in certain parts of England & Wales to lend appropriate equipment to record a PIP f2f assessment. See: https://dpac.uk.net/2019/10/put-pip-and-wca-assessments-on-the-record-a-call-to-action-ontherecord/  but I'm unsure how accurate this source is, or how old.

But, as mentioned above, is this 'evidence' going to be helpful? As @woodbine also says, 'I'm sure your idea was meant for the best,' but whilst it may pick up on some 'inaccuracies' in the Health Care Professionals report, it may also pick up on an unfortunate inadequacy in the claimant's responses if they are unaware that PIP is about their functional ability, i.e. the functional effects their disability has in their activities of daily living, &/mobility, as detailed above.

This seems the most appropriate advice to get across if you'd like to help a lot of people. As Mike [removed by moderator] says,

'At all stages of the PIP process the key thing is not the HCP report but the level of detail and anecdote in the claim pack and the strength of supporting evidence and explanations.'

katho31

Please respect a poster's opinion, it isn't okay when someone is quite new to the forum to start disregarding their views and furthermore refer to television adverts and their surveys to somehow prove a point. Be kind.

Ami2301

Please use the 'Spam button appropriately. We all have different opinions and need to respect that, whether we agree or disagree. 

poppy123456

I don't see anything wrong with @woodbine's comment and i also don't understand why it's been marked as spam. I don't know why there's so many posts being marked as spam on the forum at the moment.

There's a huge difference between someone opinion and giving incorect advice/information..

Adrian_Scope

Hello @Shnagglepop and a very warm welcome to the community.

While you'll have noticed there is some debate about the effectiveness of recording assessments it's understandable many people still want to record them and feel happier knowing it's being recorded. So it's very nice of you to be looking at ways to help people that wish to record them.

It's quite long but the DWP guidance on recording equipment can be found on DWP's PIP Assessment Guide - Part One - The Assessment Process (page 31)

I've not used them myself but I've seen this Cassette Player and Recorder recommended on the community quite regularly, but you'll need two which isn't always practical. A dual one may be better. 

Best of luck with your endeavour and please let us know how it goes.

Shnagglepop

I've taken onboard everyone's comments but I will still be moving forward with the idea as I know there are people who would love something like this in place for them. Not every MR is the same and some will listen to the tapes. Not every person is the same, some want this sort of thing as an option.
Even if I only help a small amount of people it will be worth it. And if I receive feedback that it's making things worse for people then I will re-evaluate.

 But I do agree that noone should have pressed the spam button on someone's opinion when they're only trying to help.

Adrian_Scope

I’m pleased you’re going to continue @Shnagglepop. 

There is always a demand for help recording assessments. It would be worth ensuring anyone using it knows the pros and cons and is aware of how they’re allowed to use the recording (it’s in the guide I linked in my message above). 

Shnagglepop

Thankyou Adrian I will have a look at those links today. I plan to make a website to go along with it and I will list the pros and cons on an information page. If anyone has anymore pros or cons I would like to hear them as it would be helpful to include both points of view so that people are making the decision with all of the information x

bubster20

hi @Shnagglepop, as someone who worked in the DWP for 25yrs (now medically retired and on the other side!!) I know that the DMs there had no facility to listen to any recordings that would have been submitted for MRs.  PIP DMs are the same, so from that point of view recording isn’t much help.  Facilities aside, the simple fact that, rightly or wrongly, they just don’t have time to listen to recordings of assessments has to be taken into account. 

However, a higher number of customers than some may think did indeed wish to record their assessments....that said the number that actually were finally recorded was exceptionally low (for various reasons).  

If the recording is simply to help the customer reconcile between what was actually said in assessment and what is in the written report, then fine it will do that but for MR purposes and DM listening to recordings that’s beyond unlikely I’m afraid.  Just wanted to reinforce that before anyone is lead to think recordings will sway decisions.   

Hope that helps and good luck! 

bubster20

Hi @woodbine and thank you, hope you are well too.  I’ve been “lurking” and reading all the posts On the forum but finally plucked up the courage to comment!  Not sure I’ll do it much with some of the replies I’ve seen ? but maybe now and again!  

Nice day today but think that’s us for the week here.  Usual day health wise, meh ?.

chiarieds

Hi @bubster20 - Welcome from me too. As @woodbine says, it really is a most supportive & friendly forum, tho the occasional post does cause problems with the odd member, unfortunately, whilst the vast majority try to help &/or advise. Appreciate your helpful comment & insight, & I also hope you keep on posting.

chiarieds

I'm also very disappointed to see that whoever reported @woodbine's post as spam hasn't withdrawn this. I know how I felt when I got my first, & thankfully only (so far) 'spam.' You may remember Mike, as they accused me of 'disability discrimination,' & thank you for completely refuting that. Perhaps Scope should put something in place to remove such 'wrongful' spams.

In this thread I only mentioned that there was, or perhaps still is, a scheme offering to lend equipment to record a f2f assessment so that the OP might see their idea wasn't novel, or could contact them to ask about their results.

On the other side of the coin, if the OP were to provide recording equipment, how would they feel if claimants weren't awarded PIP despite this? People's thoughts about PIP are often sadly misguided, which may be why some deserving people sadly don't get the award, if any, they feel appropriate. Hopefully some of those who ask about their PIP claim form or assessment on a forum such as this may instead be helped.