New DWP Medical Services Training & Development ESA Handbook

A copy of the DWP’s new Medical Services Training & Development ESA Handbook that is used as guidance by ATOS healthcare professionals (HCPs) in how to carry out the revised work capability assessment is now available to freely download via

http://www.disabilityalliance.org/wcanew.htm

The introduction to the new guidance states that -

“The intended learning outcome of the handbook is that the HCP will be equipped with adequate knowledge of the background, principles, processes, and the role of the HCP to be able to successfully promulgate the Ministerial intention and successfully complete the Revised Work Capability Assessment (WCA) learning path. The handbook is designed to be an essential source of information for the HCP regarding ESA (amendment regulations 2011) and should also serve as a reference guide.”

Is this resource then expected to be used by DMs so that they can see whether the assessor has correctly explained their reasons for choosing one bit of evidence over another? If not, why on earth (or whatever expletive you prefer) not?

hi

thanks to ken for providing the handbook.

i’ve added it to the rightsnet toolkit in the guidance section under ‘incapacity and disability issues’ -

http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/toolkit/guidance/#Incapacity

cheers ros