Ask Atos Healthcare disability assessment questions

isolation

FTW wrote: »

He doesn't know - which means that, as I've been saying all along, there's absolutely no reason for him to be posting here.

He gave ridiculously incorrect advice about making a complaint in the past and it is bizarre how he is blatantly refusing to answer a simple, legitimate question.

Anyone would think that they were trying to avoid having to handle complaints wouldn't they :P

Dee
http://dwpnegligence.wordpress.com

woods2001

Can you please tell me what this statememt means:
'Mobilising unaided by another person with or without a walking stick, manual wheelchair or other aid if such aid can reasonable be used.'

I ask because I would say using crutches and a prostetic leg would be aids and not aid?
Many thanks

JS477

Aids are devices that help performance of a function, i.e. they augment a remaining function. Examples include walking sticks and spectacles.

Appliances are devices that provide or replace a missing function. Examples include artificial limbs, stomas, and wheelchairs.

Have a look at Page 68 onwards of this document. Here


For interest to make it more difficult to pass the WCA the kneeling anf bending descriptors were removed because:-

"In the 2008 descriptors, bending and kneeling were considered, however the ability to bend or kneel are no longer considered critical in the modern workplace, so this activity has been removed."

FTW

isolation wrote: »

He gave ridiculously incorrect advice about making a complaint in the past and it is bizarre how he is blatantly refusing to answer a simple, legitimate question.

It's not bizarre - expecting them to do anything right, no matter how simple, is just asking far too much.

isolation wrote: »

Anyone would think that they were trying to avoid having to handle complaints wouldn't they :P

Dee
http://dwpnegligence.wordpress.com

Yep. But, there are ways and means of following the right procedures - beyond what Atoss or its astro-turfers would have you believe.

sicknotethefirst

Official company representative
I am the official company representative of atos healthcare. Mse has given permission for me to post in response to queries about the company, so that I can help solve issues.

sicknotethefirst wrote: »

Atos rep: Do you know how I take a complaint to atos at a second level? Or an independent level.

A simple yes or no will do

Atos_Healthcare_representative

sicknotethefirst wrote: »

Atos Rep: Do you know how I take a complaint to Atos at a second level? or an independent level.

Hi sicknotethefirst

Our complaints process is detailed in a booklet called "Comments, complaints and suggestions" and this explains in detail the complaints process, and is usually sent when we acknowledge receipt of a complaint and is available at our Medical Assessment Centres. Stage 1 - When a complaint is received we hope to investigate and provide a response within 20 working days. However this may take longer dependant upon the amount of information we may need to gather e.g documentation from the DWP, input from healthcare professionals or other personnel involved in the complaint. Stage 2 - If the customer is dissatisfied with our reply, it advises to contact the Customer Relations Manager with the parts of the complaint that you feel have not been dealt with to your satisfaction and that the Customer Relations Manager will arrange for a senior manager to review the investigation and undertake a further investigation, if appropriate. When our investigations are complete if you are still not satisfied with the way in which we have dealt with your issues, you may request that your complaint be referred to an Independent Tier.

sicknotethefirst

Thank you so where do I find this booklet online?

Atos_Healthcare_representative

sicknotethefirst wrote: »

Thank you so where do I find this booklet online?

Hi sicknotethefirst

Please contact us and we can email you a copy or post one to you.

martinbsp

Atos_Healthcare_company_representative wrote: »

Hi sicknotethefirst

Please contact us and we can email you a copy or post one to you.

Is this deliberate obfuscation? Why not just post the booklet online?

isolation

Atos_Healthcare_company_representative wrote: »

Hi sicknotethefirst

Our complaints process is detailed in a booklet called "Comments, complaints and suggestions" and this explains in detail the complaints process, and is usually sent when we acknowledge receipt of a complaint and is available at our Medical Assessment Centres. Stage 1 - When a complaint is received we hope to investigate and provide a response within 20 working days. However this may take longer dependant upon the amount of information we may need to gather e.g documentation from the DWP, input from healthcare professionals or other personnel involved in the complaint. Stage 2 - If the customer is dissatisfied with our reply, it advises to contact the Customer Relations Manager with the parts of the complaint that you feel have not been dealt with to your satisfaction and that the Customer Relations Manager will arrange for a senior manager to review the investigation and undertake a further investigation, if appropriate. When our investigations are complete if you are still not satisfied with the way in which we have dealt with your issues, you may request that your complaint be referred to an Independent Tier.

(Just to add that the customer should get updates every 10 days if the response is not within 30 days.)

Could the ATOS rep please state if there are any targets with respect to responses ?
ie are there targets that a certain number of complaints are validated/invalidated so that a quota of assessments are stated to be 'fit for purpose' after the a complaint or is each individual complaint based on its own merits ?

Thank you,
Dee
http://dwpnegligence.wordpress.com