Ask Atos Healthcare disability assessment questions

isolation

Atos_Healthcare_company_representative wrote: »

Hi isolation

The terms ‘targets’ or ‘quotas’, which are what you asked about, can have different meaning or implications for people.

Yes I did ask about "targets". You stated that there were none:
"
Originally Posted by Atos Healthcare company representative
No, there is nothing like that. Each complaint is looked at on its own merits. If the complaint is about the report and there is found to be an issue with it this is fed back to the DWP in all cases, not based on any sort of quota or target.
"

But obviously your own complaints procedure clearly states that there is such a "target" - it is under a section titled "targets" on page 11. It is clearly therefore a "target".

Please could you answer why you have given clearly misleading and incorrect information ?


---
you also state that:-
"We do aim for very few issues with reports, as the quote you provide says. The remit of this thread is to give people guidance on the WCA process in relation to their claim, and the important thing here is for someone to know that their complaint would be looked at based on its own merits. "
---
I think that many people who have had experience of your complaints procedure know that your words are very hollow. My wholly legitimate complaints regarding my partner's 3 farcical assessments were fairly handled... but only after your customer relations department defended the indefensible for many months until they reached your independent tier.

You state that you are here to give people guidance on the process... surely explaining why your organisation has a target that 19 out of 20 complaints will result in the assessment remaining as 'fit for purpose' is precisely part of your remit ? Please could you therefore explain why this target exists ?


You finally said:-
"
A discussion like this, about wording in documentation owned by DWP, isn’t something that I can do. You will need to go to the DWP with such queries."

But you did answer it. You stated very very clearly that there are no targets. But in your own complaints procedure (I really don't care who owns your complaints procedure! it is still the complaints procedure of ATOS Healthcare- it is the complaints procedure which ATOS Heathcare follow, there is absolutely no justification for you trying to pass this off as the DWPs responsibility), in a section titled "Targets". In the contents page it also clearly states "page 11, Targets" ( http://dwpnegligence.wordpress.com/2012/11/27/atos-complaints-procedure/ ), it gives a target that 19 of 20 assessments will still be 'fit for purpose'. could you please explain why you gave misleading information to MSE forum users ? I am fully prepared to accept that you made a mistake in saying that there are no targets, but would appreciate it if you can confirm this.


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

1plus1equal3

Hi, im sorry if im in the wrong place, im not computer literate, and dont know how to go about this posting a new thread stuff, I need advice from atos advisor, or one of you very wise forum people.My 22 year old son has aspergers, he has had many problems over the years due to this, as sometimes he dosnt think rationaly.An example of this , he did a few days work at a bakery, he took 2 days off sick , and they wouldnt pay him for those 2 days,so he went back that night and set fire to the place.The list goes on, but i wont bore you with the details.What i want to know is , he is on income support , and dla, we filled a form in for him a few weeks ago for atos, and today he has been called for a medical in 2 weeks time,I can remember reading somewhere that there is a list of conditions for who should be called for a medical, and who should be tentivly invited, and aspergers is in the top of the list , for not being called for a medical, so is this written in stone ? and who decided this list.?, I fail to see where a 30 minute interview with a medical person, will climb into my sons head.He hasnt got a condition that can be cured with medication, and he can be extremely unpredictable.Any advice would be welcome.

sicknotethefirst

1plus1equal3 wrote: »

I fail to see where a 30 minute interview with a medical person, will climb into my sons head.He hasnt got a condition that can be cured with medication, and he can be extremely unpredictable.Any advice would be welcome.

Sorry I can't help you with this one but just to be clear the Atos Hcp's are not medically qualified to carry out any sort of tests, they are only doing this for the money they get from the British tax payer. maybe someone else will be along soon to help you?

halight

Atos_Healthcare_company_representative wrote: »

Hi dicky dunock

The HCP provides advice to a DWP Decision Maker in relation to the ESA descriptors. The report we provide is one of the things that the DWP Decision Maker can use to decide on an ESA claim.

The report is the main thing that the Decision maker uses,
The Decision maker is not a medical person. Your system works on points,
What your HCP puts down gets worked out into points. The Decision maker then awards the points.
Less than a set number the person IS "fit" for work. More than a set number and the person maybe fit for work soon then you have the person will never be "fit" for work. But will still have to have regular medicals to prove that they will never get better,

sicknotethefirst

Can anyone tell me what this means? 'Mobility Support Group Criteria'

bradzki

Just been called in for another medical assessment, this should be interesting if I get the same assessor as last time. She lied in her report about my condition and said I could return to work in two months when all the hospital medical reports said my condition would only get worse and I would be unable to return to work.
This was six months ago and I am still unable to return to work as my condition, as the experts said, has deteriorated and my doctor has just signed me off for a further three months, I am employed by the way and my employer is even satisfied that I am unfit for work.
I will challenge her on the report she wrote if it is the same assessor.

tracy0770

sicknotethefirst wrote: »

Can anyone tell me what this means? 'Mobility Support Group Criteria'

1.1.1 Support Group Criteria – Severe Functional Limitation
The following criteria are used to consider whether a person may be eligible for entry into the Support Group. These are set out in terms of descriptors. Many of these descriptors equate to the highest descriptor within the relevant LCW descriptors.
These descriptors are set out in the legislation and relate to the persons ability to perform that activity.
In considering each of these activities the concept of repeatedly, reliably and safely must be taken into account.
If a person can perform a task but is unable to repeat it within a reasonable timescale the person should be considered unable to perform the task. For example, the HCP should consider what would be expected of an individual who did not have an impairment of their ability to mobilise. That is, a ‘normal’ individual would be able to perform this activity within a given time period and repeat that activity again after a reasonable rest period. The duration of the reasonable rest period can then serve as a basis for comparison to gauge the range of what is 'reasonable'.
The safety of the person must also be considered in each of the activities. If a person is at risk when performing a task, they must be considered incapable of the task.
A task must also be completed reasonably. If a person can complete a task but suffers significant pain or distress in doing so, they should be considered incapable of the activity.
The descriptors relate to various areas of function including:
• lower limb functions
• upper limb functions
• continence
• eating and drinking/chewing swallowing food
• communication
• learning or comprehension
• awareness of hazard
• personal action
• coping with change
• coping with social engagement
• appropriateness of behaviour with other people
A full list of the support group descriptors may be found in Appendix 1.
When justifying your advice, where entitlement to be in the Support Group (Severe Functional Limitation) seems appropriate, you must also, indicate in every case that the claimant would also satisfy criteria for having limited capability for work.
Each of these will now be considered.

sicknotethefirst

Thank you for your help Tracy

tracy0770

it's a shame HCP and ATOS do NOT FOLLOW THESE RULES,

FTW

Atos_Healthcare_company_representative wrote: »

Hi isolation

Sorry for the delay. All complaints are [STRIKE]looked at [/STRIKE] ignored on their own merits.

Corrected for you.