Ask Atos Healthcare disability assessment questions

Atos_Healthcare_representative

sicknotethefirst wrote: »

My complaint was dated the 15th Feb which is when Atos received it, so I should get a reply by today.

Would that be right?

Hi sicknotethefirst

It would depend on when on the 15th we received the complaint, but you can check on the progress of the investigation by calling the number that was on your acknowledgement letter for the person managing it.

schrodie

Atos_Healthcare_company_representative wrote: »

Hi schrodie
I can confirm this is NOT the case. LiMA does not dictate or determine the questions that the HCP asks. The HCP is wholly responsible for the questions they ask and for the content of the final report.

If the HCP has not offered their name in the introduction you may ask for it at any point. All of our HCPs receive comprehensive specialist training in disability assessment and are approved by the DWP Chief Medical Adviser on behalf of the Secretary of State.

We'll have to agree to disagree about who or what drives the WCA, evidence does show from FOI requests that it's the LiMA software that prompts the questions that your HCPs asks the claimant undergoing the WCA. It is also the LiMA software that compiles (again from FOI requests) the final report based on the questions LIMA has "thrown up" that is electronically submitted to the DWP's DM. However.

You still haven't answered my second question as to what happens when the HCP refuses to give their full name and area of training upon request. I know that apparently all of your "HCPs receive comprehensive specialist training in disability assessment and are approved by the DWP Chief Medical Adviser on behalf of the Secretary of State." but that doesn't answer my question as to what happens when they refuse to give verbally upon request from the claimant their name and area of training.

Please can you address this second question.

sicknotethefirst

Atos_Healthcare_company_representative wrote: »

Hi sicknotethefirst

It would depend on when on the 15th we received the complaint, but you can check on the progress of the investigation by calling the number that was on your acknowledgement letter for the person managing it.

I'm waiting for a very stropy person at Atos to respond to me as she did yesterday, I have asked them to let me know what is going on but I think this person will not get back to me, I have pointed out to her that in the Atos handbook it does say...

The Interim Update
In some circumstances you will have to issue an Interim Update to the claimant. This is provided to the claimant normally at 20 working days of receipt of the complaint. The Interim Update:
• indicates when a full response can be expected
• states that further investigation is needed
• confirms the contact point for the claimant

But I get the feeling she doesn't like being told what Atos rules say????

I will probably have to involve my MP yet again.

isolation

sicknotethefirst wrote: »

But I get the feeling she doesn't like being told what Atos rules say????

To be fair (which is more than they deserve), a lot of ATOS employees do not understand their own guidelines nor processes. This is more to do with the lack of basic training as opposed to the person unfortunate enough to stoop to having to work for ATOS.

For example when complaining, I have had to several times explain that there was a second tier of complaint as I was told that the response to the first tier was the only response possible.... and also that there was no such thing as an Independent Tier.

I don't know your problem but if they have not complied with the complaint process, explain this in writing and ask for it now to be escalated to the 2nd tier and so on.

Best of luck with your response.
Dee
http://dwpnegligence.wordpress.com

claret-hammer

hi,i have a atos home visit assessment coming up which atos will be recording,do i get a copy of the recording before he/she leaves?

sicknotethefirst

claret-hammer wrote: »

hi,i have a atos home visit assessment coming up which atos will be recording,do i get a copy of the recording before he/she leaves?

Yes they should give you a working copy, don't be fobbed off either.

claret-hammer

thanks anything else i should be aware of?

sicknotethefirst

Only that they will try and twist everything you say.

claret-hammer

best be careful s to what i say then.
yer heard a few stories about there tricks

sicknotethefirst

I see yet again the Atos rep has removed my post which was only stating that their complaints procedure doesn't work as he stated.