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

New pilot for jobcentres to refer claimants directly to Improving Access to Psychological Therapies

Daphne
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Written answer in the House of Commons yesterday -

To help claimants with mental health conditions access the support they need we have been working in partnership with the NHS and Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) across Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.

Work Coaches based at Milton Keynes Jobcentre are now able to make direct referrals to the local IAPT service. Following a referral, the initial assessment of needs takes place within the Jobcentre in a private interview room and is completed by the IAPT Assessor, a qualified Work Psychologist. Claimants can elect to have the assessment take place at an alternative venue other than the Jobcentre should they choose.

The initial assessment is a gateway to the IAPT service and claimants will continue to receive support through the IAPT programme where appropriate. Participation is completely voluntary and claimants are able to withdraw at any stage of the process.

MikeMay
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Would as qualified work psychologist be as qualified as a qualified HCP?

Ruth Knox
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This seems quite dangerous to me.  Surely someone with mental health problems needs referral to a specialist through the NHS by their GP?  If they need a referral to this kind of clinician I have not heard of before - a work psychologist - and are not getting it then we need to be concerned that such a valuable resource is not available on the NHS.  If they don’t need it why is an unqualified jobcentre plus employee allowed to refer them to the wrong specialist, possibly with damaging effects? This seems an outrageous way of bullying people with mental health issues.  Why stop there? Could people with back problems be referred to chiropractors? With Crohn’s disease prescribed probiotics? Ruth

Paul_Treloar_AgeUK
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Ruth Knox - 04 April 2019 03:30 PM

This seems quite dangerous to me.  Surely someone with mental health problems needs referral to a specialist through the NHS by their GP?  If they need a referral to this kind of clinician I have not heard of before - a work psychologist - and are not getting it then we need to be concerned that such a valuable resource is not available on the NHS.  If they don’t need it why is an unqualified jobcentre plus employee allowed to refer them to the wrong specialist, possibly with damaging effects? This seems an outrageous way of bullying people with mental health issues.  Why stop there? Could people with back problems be referred to chiropractors? With Crohn’s disease prescribed probiotics? Ruth

IAPT is an NHS programme Ruth and been running since 2008.

https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/adults/iapt/

However, I do share your disquiet about this approach, it’s yet another attempt to make medical treatment a condition of receiving benefits, even if the theory is that participation is voluntary.

Brian JB
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Occupational psychologists should be registered with HCPC - I am not sure quite that calling them work psychologists indicates any different level of training, just using a different description/name

Ros
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The DWP has published an evaluation report looking at stakeholders views of the pilot -

Employment Advisers in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies: process evaluation report

shawn mach
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Meanwhile in Cornwall .....

Hundreds of residents from Bude to Penzance are set to benefit from improved mental health support as Amber Rudd announces £100,000 funding for a life-changing project.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/100000-fund-to-boost-mental-health-support-across-cornwall