Alleged new WCA descriptors for ESA.

rogerblack

Copied from http://diaryofabenefitscrounger.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/breaking-news-possible-new-wca.html

PART 1

1. Mobilising
a. The claimant cannot reliably, repeatedly and safely, within a reasonable amount of time mobilise:

Over at least 100m [or suitable alternative distances to attract lower points]
On a variety of terrains, including steps and uneven as well as level ground
Through a variety of working spaces, including negotiating doors and other entrances and exits
To and from the workplace, and relevant work-related commitments, with some prior planning and adjustments
Without significant discomfort, breathlessness or fatigue

b. This is the case:
i. More than 75% of the time

ii. Between 50% and 75% of the time

iii. Between 20% and 50% of the time

2. Standing and sitting
a. Cannot reliably, repeatedly and safely, using any aid that it is reasonable to expect them to use:
i. Move between one seated position and another seated position located next to one another without receiving physical assistance from another person.
ii. Remain at a work station, either:
a. Standing unassisted by another person (even if free to move around) or;
b. Sitting (even in an adjustable chair) for more than 30 minutes without significant discomfort, loss of balance or exhaustion
iii. Remain at a work station; either:
a. Standing unassisted by another person (even if free to move around) or;
b. Sitting (even in an adjustable chair) for more than an hour without significant discomfort, loss of balance or exhaustion.

b. This is the case
i. More than 75% of the time

ii. Between 50% and 75% of the time

iii. Between 20% and 50% of the time

3. Reaching, picking up and moving
a. Due to difficulties with or restricted movement of upper body (arms, shoulders, back, neck) and/or lower body (hips, knees, ankles), cannot repeatedly, reliably and safely, without significant discomfort or exhaustion, from standing or sitting:
i. Reach up, down (i.e. through bending, kneeling or squatting) and sideways a reasonable distance

ii. Pick up and move a range of differently-sized objects up to 0.5kg

iii. Either reach up, down or sideways a reasonable distance; or reach and pick up and move a range of differently-sized objects up to 0.5kg

b.
i. with either hand

ii. with dominant hand

iii. with both hands


c. This is the case;
i. More than 75% of the time

ii. Between 50% and 75% of the time

iii. Between 20% and 50% of the time


4. Manual dexterity/ hand movement
a. Cannot reliably, repeatedly and safely, within a reasonable amount of time and without significant discomfort:
i. Grip and turn a door handle, tap and/or piece of equipment (such as a dial on a radio)

ii. Create a legible message or draw a diagram through the use of a pen or pencil

iii. Use a suitable keyboard or mouse

iv. Turn the pages of a book

v. Pick up and move a £1 coin (so as to put it into a slot in a machine/ box)

vi. Repeatedly press buttons, such as to dial a number on a telephone keypad

vii. Twist a lid or cap so as to open a jar or bottle.

viii. Carry out fine motor/ finger movement, such as to do up a button or tie a knot

b. To the extent that this is, without significant discomfort;
i. Impossible

ii. Very difficult

iii. Difficult

c. This is the case:
i. More than 75% of the time

ii. between 50% and 75% of the time

iii. between 25% and 50% of the time


5. Bladder/ bowel continence
a. Experiences unpredictable or recurrent loss of control leading to voiding of the bladder, extensive evacuation of the bowel or substantial leakage of the contents of a collecting device sufficient to require cleaning and a change of clothing and/or incontinence pads Or

b. Without immediate access# to a toilet, suitably modified where appropriate, would experience loss of control leading to voiding of the bladder, extensive evacuation of the bowel or substantial leakage of a collecting device sufficient to require cleaning and a change of clothing and/or incontinence pads;

c. Experiences significant discomfort due to the need to evacuate the bladder or bowel or risks losing control if not able quickly to reach a toilet, suitably modified where appropriate

And

c. This is the case:
i. Most of the time (more than 75%)

ii. Some of the time (between 50% and 75%)

iii. Occasionally (between 20% and 50%) PART 2

6. Learning Tasks
a. Is able to learn processes necessary to get a job and undertake tasks within it

b. Can learn tasks relevant to getting a job and to working;
i. with verbal or written instructions

ii. with guided practice

iii. Cannot even learn all necessary tasks

c. No longer requires support to repeat the task after;
i. one day

ii. one week

iii. one month

iv. Three months or more

7. Awareness of Hazards
a. Is fully aware of potential hazards

b. Without help and/or adjustments, risk(s) of injury to self or others, or of damage to property or possessions is likely to be;
i. Moderate

ii. Substantial

iii. Very substantial

c. The risks above are likely to arise;
i. Occasionally

ii. Frequently

iii. More often than not


8. Maintaining Focus
a. Is able to maintain focus without difficulty

b. Due to poor memory or concentration, needs help and/or adjustments in
maintaining focus on;
i. Some tasks

ii. Most tasks

iii. All tasks

c. When working on the tasks concerned for;
i. Most of the day

ii. A few hours

iii. An hour or less

d. Needs help and/or adjustments for this;
i. Occasionally

ii. Frequently

iii. More often than not

9. Executing Tasks
a. Has no difficulty executing even complex tasks

b. Needs additional time to complete;
i. Some tasks

ii. Most tasks

iii. All tasks

c. Such that the task would take;
i. A little longer

ii. Substantially longer

iii. Much longer

d. This is an issue;
i. Occasionally

ii. Frequently

iii. More often than not

10. Managing Self and Schedule
a. Has no difficulties managing him/herself and his/her schedule

b. Because of difficulties in motivation or organisation, or distress, can only manage self and schedule to an acceptable standard with;
i. Some help and/or adjustments

ii. Substantial help and/or adjustments

iii. Cannot manage at all

c. For;
i. Short periods

ii. Much of the day

iii. All day

d. Needs help and/or adjustments for this;
i. Occasionally

ii. Frequently

iii. More often than not

11. Coping with Change
a. Able to cope with minor planned changes to daily routine

b. Can only cope with minor planned changes to daily routine with;
i. Some help and/or adjustments

ii. Substantial help and/or adjustments

iii. Cannot cope at all

or

Can only cope with minor unplanned changes to daily routine with;
i. Some help and/or adjustments

ii. Substantial help and/or adjustments

iii. Cannot cope at all

c. Needs help and/or adjustments for this;
i. Occasionally

ii. Frequently

iii. More often than not

12. Getting About
a. Able to get to familiar places

b. Because of distress or disorientation, can only get to familiar places with;
i. Some help and/or adjustments

ii. Substantial help and/or adjustments

iii. Cannot make journeys at all

or

Because of distress or disorientation, can only get to unfamiliar places with;
i. Some help and/or adjustments

ii. Substantial help and/or adjustments

iii. Cannot make journeys at all

c. Needs help and/or adjustments for this;
i. Occasionally

ii. Frequently

iii. More often than not

13. Social Engagement
a. Is able to interact with people and engage socially

b. Because of difficulties interacting with others, anxiety, distress or other emotions, can only engage socially with;
i. Some help and/or adjustments

ii. Substantial help and/or adjustments

iii. Cannot engage socially at all

c. Difficulties in interaction and engagement occur with people
i. Unknown to the person

ii. Known to the person

iii. Familiar to the person

d. Needs help and/or adjustments for this;
i. Occasionally

ii. Frequently

iii. More often than not

14. Appropriateness of Behaviour
a. Does not display behaviour which work colleagues would consider inappropriate

b. May display physically aggressive, verbally aggressive or socially inappropriate behaviour unless he/she has;
i. Some help and/or adjustments

ii. Substantial help and/or adjustments

iii. Behaviour not amenable to help or support

c. The nature of this behaviour tends to be;
i. Mild

ii. Moderate

iii. Severe

d. Needs help and/or adjustments for this;
i. Occasionally

ii. Frequently

iii. More often than not

15. Communicating with Others
a. Has no difficulties with communication or social understanding

b. In order to communicate and to show social understanding, needs;
i. Some help and/or adjustments

ii. Substantial help and/or adjustments

iii. Communication is not amenable to help or support

c. Needs help and/or adjustments during;
i. Some communication

ii. Most communication

iii. All communication

d. Needs help and/or adjustments for this;
i. Occasionally

ii. Frequently

iii. More often than not


A mixed bag, seem to be generally an improvement, though notable by its absence is the consciousness descriptor.

The scoring seems a bit unclear too.
For example - awareness of hazards - there are 9 possible outcomes from two different criteria - how likely is it you are to be at hazard and how severe is it.

If this results in more '1 or 2' point descriptors, where you can score on multiple descriptors, this is a great benefit.
But it's unclear how this would work.

This seems to draw at least in part from https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:ONiHjVAwDx0J:data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2012-0503/DEP2012-0503.doc+%22Due+to+difficulties+with+or+restricted+movement+of+upper+body%22&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESi9yqpJsp6t1gHU9KZTfJqg7Ugf5nb97zYCRKhmuysVeT6Xi6TRP8gFD_NYON9-Wee6i4RuZC6uZuN_NWi6Ad_pJGdNx-kDVrcIN4MbUteysMjoZtgvynjLYUPAhTtDjZcRjjlt&sig=AHIEtbQLJienp7dVP41OF76uIqZcluoBXw - which is a report by a group of charities on the WCA

Cpt.Scarlet

The new draft ESA regulations targetted for Apri 2013, contain the current set of WCA regulations, I don't think there is a cat in hells chance on any of the above even being considered let alone implemented.

rogerblack

Cpt.Scarlet wrote: »

The new draft ESA regulations targetted for Apri 2013, contain the current set of WCA regulations, I don't think there is a cat in hells chance on any of the above even being considered let alone implemented.

They do indeed seem radically different.
I could easily see minor tweaks and perhaps even merging or adding descriptors, but a wholesale rewrite does seem very questionable.

Especially as it would mean a whole new way of scoring, and with UC coming in next year too.

rogerblack

On doing some further reading, specifically MINDs blog post including the paragraph:
'This turn of events provoked mixed feelings: it would be the first time that the current descriptors had been properly tested, with the outcomes they suggest compared to the view of an expert panel on whether the applicant was actually fit for work. It would also be a good opportunity to test out some of our ideas for improving the descriptors. But we were wary of the project being driven by the DWP, with Mind’s name attached to it, and the possibility that we wouldn’t be comfortable with how the testing was designed or carried out.'

It seems likely that this will be an exercise similar to that for comparing the DLA/PIP descriptors.

A selected set of people are put through a more in-depth assessment, the results are converted to an anonymised form, an expert panel is asked a raw question 'do you think this applicant should get ESA (and which group)'.
Then the papers are passed to decisionmakers, to test out various criteria.
This lets them tweak the descriptors for the desired pass-rate.

This then would be rolled out over a small area to test, before nationally.

There simply isn't time to do this before UCs introduction.
I wonder if this is instead research for the UC descriptors, perhaps with a view to aligning contributory ESA and UC descriptors.

The timing for this is pretty much bang on.