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Forum Home  →  Discussion  →  Work capability issues and ESA  →  Thread

A Day in the Life of a Healthcare Professional

Daphne
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From the CHDA website -

Our Healthcare Professionals (HCP) always take the time to read each customer’s file ahead of undertaking an assessment. This involves reading the customer’s Capability for Work questionnaire (ESA50) and reviewing any medical evidence that may have been provided…

Throughout the assessment, the HCP will always explain what they’re doing, why they’re doing it and what will happen afterwards. At the end of the assessment, the HCP will ask if there’s anything that the customer would like to add.

https://www.chdauk.co.uk/updates/2016/09/day-life-healthcare-professional

nevip
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Welfare rights adviser - Sefton Council, Liverpool

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Ha ha ha ha ha!  I’m splitting my sides.  Ha ha ha ha ha.  You’re killing me.  Ha ha ha ha.  Please stop, please, it’s starting to hurt now.  Ha ha ha ha ha.

Mike Hughes
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Senior welfare rights officer - Salford City Council Welfare Rights Service

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Okay then, feel free to add in your own gems seeing as it’s Friday.

Our Healthcare Professionals (HCP) always take the time to read each customer’s file ahead of undertaking an assessment. This involves reading the customer’s Capability for Work questionnaire (ESA50) and reviewing any medical evidence that may have been provided.

“I haven’t got the time to read anything!”
“I’ve not seen anything about your case, but we have to go ahead anyway.”
“I’m sorry there seems to be an IT issues. It’s most unfortunate and very unusual.”
“I don’t need to have read anything. We’re starting from scratch.”
“I couldn’t read your handwriting.”
“Is that your handwriting. That’s awful. I couldn’t read half of that.”
“I don’t know anything about forms. They don’t send anything to me.”

Our fully qualified HCPs start each assessment by introducing themselves and explaining what the assessment involves. Using a mix of questioning and clinical skills, they ask customers about their health condition history to understand how it affects them on a day-to-day basis. The HCP will also talk about what a typical day looks like for the customer and any difficulties they face. Each assessment is tailored to the individual to ensure the HCP captures an accurate picture of the customer’s life. Depending on the health condition, customers may also be given a short physical assessment. A customer will never be asked to do anything that causes them any discomfort or pain.

“No, stop speaking please. I don’t need to know that.”
“Yes, I know you said you’re blind but I still need to know how many fingers I’m holding up.”
“I’m newly qualified and they’re training me next week.”
Customer falls off chair attempting to flex as requested. “Customer has full flexibility.”
“No you can’t have a home-visit because you don’t have a physical disability.”
“No your two autistic children can’t come in. Child care is your problem.”

And of course the mental health classics.

“Customer looked fine.”
“Customer made good eye contact.”
“Customer was very pleasant and well dressed.” = customer gave me a really hard time and I behaved very badly in response and now need to make it look like all is well.

Throughout the assessment, the HCP will always explain what they’re doing, why they’re doing it and what will happen afterwards. At the end of the assessment, the HCP will ask if there’s anything that the customer would like to add.

“Would you mind not talking. I need to concentrate on what I’m typing.”
“Oh I’m sorry. I thought you’d finished. I’ve already saved the final document. Just write to the DWP and tell them.”

After the assessment, the HCP will then complete a report using criteria laid out by Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This is to provide the DWP Decision Maker with an impartial, justified medical opinion about how each customer is affected by their medical condition.

“Client is male.” - client was female.
“Client watches TV all day.” - client is blind/doesn’t have a TV.

The Assessment Report is one piece of information DWP uses in deciding benefit entitlement. The Healthcare Professional who carries out the assessment does not make any decision about benefit entitlement. DWP will contact the customer when they have made a decision on benefit eligibility.

“This will take months and they will believe everything we say even when it’s inherently contradictory and possibly bonkers.”

Mr Finch
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Benefits adviser - Isle of Wight CAB

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Throughout the assessment, the HCP will always explain what they’re doing, why they’re doing it and what will happen afterwards.

“If go to the media to complain about this assessment, you can’t give them my name.”

“I see your companion is taking notes: I’ve been told to tell you that you can’t use your own notes in an appeal.”

Using a mix of questioning and clinical skills, they ask customers about their health condition history to understand how it affects them on a day-to-day basis.

Claimant: “I took an overdose two weeks ago.”
Assessor: “But we’re looking at how you are NOW.”

[ Edited: 23 Sep 2016 at 01:37 pm by Mr Finch ]
Tom H
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Newcastle Welfare Rights Service

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Throughout the assessment, the HCP will always explain what they’re doing, why they’re doing it and what will happen afterwards.

What they’re doing? Getting you off the sick
Why they’re doing it? For about 60k a year
What happens afterwards? You’re taken off the sick.

 

 

richpor
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Citizens Advice York

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My all time favourite from a GP who hated dealing with mental health problems - “Claims to be depressed but smiled at me”. Priceless

Benny Fitzpatrick
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Welfare Rights Officer, Southway Housing Trust, Manchester

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I think you people have got the wrong end of the stick. The piece is obviously intended as a work of fiction! It bears so little relation to reality I’m surprised any confusion could arise!