Does a nurse have to be registered?

ilovecats said:

Gerald said:

Good  to know ilovecats  if they do not like to record it and then write down something different to what the claimant says then it makes a difference. and my PIP assessor did that and now its my word against is and i asked about recording it and got we do not do that and you can not do it yourself as i was going to give them a copy at the same time this as to be recorded this as to come in as part of the assessment not you have to ask them is it okay just do it .

For future reference, you can request to record the assessment with at least 3 days notice. The PIP assessor doesn't have to accept it so you should be able to ask for someone who will (not 100% sure about this).

You have to use either two tape or CD recorders at the same time, and have to provide two unopened / sealed tapes or CD's that the assessor can see has not been tampered with. 

You cannot record on any smart phone or fancy technological device.

Just be aware, that even if you record your assessment, unless you pay to have the tapes transcribed, which I believe is quite expensive, a tribunal is unlikely to sit and actually listen although it is more likely that any MR done prior is probably going to be more successful.  

Knowledge on recording isn't my forte so if anyone knows more feel free to add.

 [The usual disclaimers - I don’t work for Capita or Atos or the DWP or the Tories - I do claim PIP - I have had an almighty fight with Capita - I haven’t had any problem with DWP who have always been polite and reasonable]

In my previous employment i had some experience of tape-recording (as it was then!)

I recorded my assessment with the consent of Capita.I was amazed at the assessors report that resulted - lots of lies/ mistakes/ made-up bits because the assessor forgot to ask/ poor interview technique. These wouldn’t have been corrected without a recording.

I was also surprised at the number of times when I looked at one part of the report, said to myself “I never said that” and yet when i checked the recording I found that I had!

The major positive as far as I see it is not for individual cases but the ability for a supervisor to dip-sample cases for training/ developmental purposes. In my case the assessor clearly need extra training….

The major downside is the minute that all interviews are taped you will find that the interviews change in style. Assessors will ask lots more questions to get the same information.They will rely on a transcript instead of their own notes. The process will take a lot longer and waiting times will increase massively…

ilovecats said:

Gerald said:

ilovecats said:

Gerald said:

Good  to know ilovecats  if they do not like to record it and then write down something different to what the claimant says then it makes a difference. and my PIP assessor did that and now its my word against is and i asked about recording it and got we do not do that and you can not do it yourself as i was going to give them a copy at the same time this as to be recorded this as to come in as part of the assessment not you have to ask them is it okay just do it .

For future reference, you can request to record the assessment with at least 3 days notice. The PIP assessor doesn't have to accept it so you should be able to ask for someone who will (not 100% sure about this).

You have to use either two tape or CD recorders at the same time, and have to provide two unopened / sealed tapes or CD's that the assessor can see has not been tampered with. 

You cannot record on any smart phone or fancy technological device.

Just be aware, that even if you record your assessment, unless you pay to have the tapes transcribed, which I believe is quite expensive, a tribunal is unlikely to sit and actually listen although it is more likely that any MR done prior is probably going to be more successful.  

Knowledge on recording isn't my forte so if anyone knows more feel free to add.

Hi ilovecats  I did more that 3 days in advance and got i know to my request to record the assessment with at least 3 days notice. The PIP assessor doesn't have to accept it so you should be able to ask for someone who will point in fact the pip assessor asked me about manage medication to which i tell him that with my rheumatoid arthritis i can not get my medication out of the foil pack so my Sister or Nephew come  round and put them i a large pill box for me then on is report the PIP assessor put asked about manage medication and the claimant says he as know problems with is  medication and can get them out of the foil pack with know problems and now with no recording it my word against is how is that fair recording the assessment as to be part of the assessment right it know if buts or maybe and if the PIP assessor doesn't  like it do a diffrent job then .

I'm sorry you had a bad experience. Just to clarify, I have no issues with recording assessments. If they asked to, I would let the claimant sit in a way that meant they could see the screen and what I was writing down. 

I'd like people to realise though, that even if the assessment is recorded, and even if the assessor writes what you said verbatim on the report, they can still go against (either higher or lower than) what you are claiming. There is a wide variety of evidence available other than the functional history obtained in the assessment. 

I'll use your example to try and explain:
(not because I don't believe you cannot remove tablets or deserve to be awarded)

Claim:
- has arthritis and cannot get tablets out of packaging
Evidence for:
- GP letter stated diagnosis of arthritis and is taking naproxen and paracetamol
Evidence against:  
- no evidence of rheumatology input
- low levels of pain medication
- no specialist medication e.g. methotrexate 
- was able to perform the dexterity tests without problem
- pinch grip was normal during physical examination
- no evidence of swelling or redness in finger joints
- was witnessed undo the buttons on their coat
- was witnessed to unscrew the cap on the water bottle
This person would be awarded 3A.

Another opposite example would be:
Claim:
- has COPD, states no restriction when going to the toilet
Evidence for:
- nothing in PIP2, functional history indicates he uses the radiator to stand up from the toilet
Evidence showing additional restriction:  
- takes 4 different inhalers and anti mucus medication
- uses home oxygen on bad days
- sees COPD nurse every 3 months
- letter from respiratory consultant stated O2 levels run at 85% on air
- was witnessed to be breathless and used inhalers during assessment
- was witnessed to push down on the arms of the chair to stand up
This person would be awarded 5B

That's how PIP works. We cannot just take people at their word, it has to be evidenced in many ways.

Now I know what I have written will infuriate a lot of people, and it seems like assessors are out to catch you out, and to an extent that I suppose it is true but there has to be a line somewhere otherwise every single person with any diagnosis would claim and the pot of money isn't infinite.

Please don't all lynch me.