Condition management program and ESA.

justaquestion

Hi,


I'm in the support group of ESA and got a letter from local benefits office offering me the chance to go on a Condition Management Program (CMP) for 12 weeks I think.


It is not compulsory to take part and says a lot of professionals involved, and the sessions seem very interesting how to deal with stress and anxiety and other equally interesting stuff.


It also says that it won't affect your benefits.


Just wondering has anyone gone on one of these and if so what did you think?


Also a little worried that they might well report back to benefits office a persons progress which could well have an effect on being called again sooner rather than later for a WCA.


Anyone been on one of these and any positive results?
Thanks
John

vision2009

Do not trust them, they will use it against you. Bin it

rogerblack

Not every program is useless or unhelpful.

teddysmum

It looks a little like the self-help course I went on, a few years ago, but that was not run by medical professionals; rather by trained people, many of whom were volunteers , but also had some kind of chronic medical condition.


I can't remember it's name but it was advertised by our local health centre to anyone diagnosed with certain conditions. The charity running it is national, though.


I, personally, didn't find it helpful, except that it was a good social occasion, because it was advertised as condition specific, but this particular one was general and most topics discussed were ones I'd studied or experienced before . (eg diet, relaxation exercises, pain-stress-pain cycle, step-by-step targets).


However, the majority of the group of ,about 12, with conditions like diabetes, arthritis, COPD and anxiety found it very helpful, even if it only made them feel in charge instead of the condition ruling their life.

Upsidedown_Bear

teddysmum wrote: »

It looks a little like the self-help course I went on, a few years ago, but that was not run by medical professionals; rather by trained people, many of whom were volunteers , but also had some kind of chronic medical condition.

I can't remember it's name but it was advertised by our local health centre to anyone diagnosed with certain conditions. The charity running it is national, though.

I, personally, didn't find it helpful, except that it was a good social occasion, because it was advertised as condition specific, but this particular one was general and most topics discussed were ones I'd studied or experienced before . (eg diet, relaxation exercises, pain-stress-pain cycle, step-by-step targets).

However, the majority of the group of ,about 12, with conditions like diabetes, arthritis, COPD and anxiety found it very helpful, even if it only made them feel in charge instead of the condition ruling their life.

Just wondering if it was the Expert Patients Programme?
Some info here:
http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/doctors/Pages/expert-patients-programme.aspx

Droopydrawers

I have been on the Expert Patients programme (awful- depressing, I didn't want to listen to other peoples health problems when I had enough of my own) I only lasted a few weeks before giving up.
The Condition Management Program was a different thing - it was one to one - and 7 years ago, and was before I was put in the Support Group, they were not experts in my health field, but 'general' counsellors, I didn't find that helpful either - things might have changed in 7 years though

ab1982

Not sure why you wouldn't go on it. You would be a mug to turn down any kind of training if someone else is paying for it.

rogerblack

ab1982 wrote: »

Not sure why you wouldn't go on it. You would be a mug to turn down any kind of training if someone else is paying for it.

Because this sort of thing is not risk-free.
Assuming that every single decision the DWP and all their contractors will make is rational, and sane is extremely problematic.
The risks are perhaps slightly lower for someone in the support group, but they are still present.

If only people that were actually fit for work were found fit for work.
If only people that could reasonably do activities would be required to do them.
If only the DWP and everyone involved properly followed the rules.

Then it would be a lot more reasonable.

Quoting in part from a recent letter to the DWP.

My current 'action plan' agreed over the phone at the last WFI (after missing the first call and it having to be rearranged) is to obtain medical treatment.
The law does not allow this to be required of me, and it is problematic in any case, as I have recently learned that I was not referred to a CFS clinic as I thought I was. General misunderstanding of the law by staff does not help to make accurate decisions. 


The DWP do not have a functional mail system, one of the few ways I am sometimes able to contact them. Requests for contact methods by email resulted in a procedure that did not work.


By 'not functional' I mean that if it was functional, and rational, on both of the last two occasions I got a 'please explain your absence' note, despite sending an explanation at the cost of several days exhaustion both times, and that explanation having reached the DWP by the time of the decision *, the DWP chose to arrange their processes so that they cannot read and use the information sent to them, but instead make a decision based solely on the phone call.


On the most recent instance, I missed two phone calls, (when I have previously informed them that I have great difficulty often even physically getting to the phone, as well as disturbed sleep that mean I may not be awake when called, as well as severe problems answering calls at all)



*) the letter was posted the day after the letter I got about the WCA. If it had not been in the DWPs posession a week, it was almost so.



The DM that called me post the most recent missed WCA only referred to my note, and had not read any more of my file than that, or investigated the prior calls.


Despite a month prior going so far as to call my doctor on the grounds that I was a suicide risk, following my prior WCA failure, my ESA was terminated with no review whatsoever or information on the part of the DM making the decision other than the fact I had missed my WCA and did not answer two phone calls. They knowingly arranged their processes to ignore one of the only means I have to contact them, and indeed one they are statutorily required to accept.


As mentioned above - I have asked for a way to contact them by email, or letter through a means which would get to a DM promptly, this has not been done, arguably in violation of the equalities act, as I can't reliably answer the phone, and do not have evidence as might be expected of a condition of my seriousness, because it cannot be cured or treated.
Since the decision that is the subject of the alleged MR notice, my ESA has been resumed. At the wrong rate. (assessment rate only, when this can only legally happen post MR if I have made a fresh claim, or have made an appeal)


It is not rational to assume that if I was found fit for work related activity, and actually required to do this, future decisions would always be logical, accurate, and based on all the information the DWP hold, when (different parts of) the DWP have exhibited ignorance of the law (action plan), systematic inflexibility, and ignorance of the aspects of my condition that are directly likely to cause poor decisions in the future.


On the above - I have real problems answering the phone, both mental and physical. I can sometimes respond to email, but even responding to threads on here at a time of my choosing when I'm 'better' - there are occasions I simply can't open threads or reply to email.
It is much, much worse when doing things in person, about my own case, with my real name.

ab1982

I understand what you're saying roger and I am admittedly naive to the joy of dealing with the DWP. However I think trust is a two way street and if claimants are turning down free courses because they simply don't trust the DWP not to find them fit for work then you cant really blame the DWP for being sceptical of claimants.

teddysmum

Upsidedown_Bear wrote: »

Just wondering if it was the Expert Patients Programme?
Some info here:
http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/doctors/Pages/expert-patients-programme.aspx

Yes . It was.

Richie-from-the-Boro

CMP's covers many areas for example heart, musculo-skeletal & respiratory not just MH & substance abuse. They, in this context all relate as rogerblack says to DWP funded initiative to reduce the number of people claiming incapacity benefits via the Pathways to Work which has been around for 5 years or so. The Pathways scheme was originally led by JC+ targeted at IB transitions but is now mainly contacted out.

The real question is what % of those attending end up with a financial loss ?