PIP assessor

fluke13

Are you allowed to ask a PIP assessor what qualifications/field they are in. Would this annoy the assessor?
Just wondering what back ground other peoples assessors are in.

Dreamnine

I believe a lot of them are ex-nurses or have some background in a medical environment. Asking them would be likely to antagonise them I should imagine and I wouldn't advise it.

seven-day-weekend

Do you ask your lawyer or accountant or the person who serves you at Morrisons if they are qualified to do their job?

GlasweJen

They write on the PA4 form what they are and their registration number they hold so I take that as a yes, you can ask. I asked and was given an answer both times.

fluke13

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Do you ask your lawyer or accountant or the person who serves you at Morrisons if they are qualified to do their job?

Wow, love how some of you are so helpful.
I was simply asking what sort of background they are likely to have. An ex paramedic is likely to have a better understanding of medical conditions than a physio.
And as for my Lawyer or accountant I would already know that they are qualified to do the job because I would be employing them.

pmlindyloo

From benefitsandwork.co.uk

A Capita spokesperson told us:
All of Capitas health professionals are qualified to carry out PIP assessments and undergo training according to the Department and Capitas quality standard.
DWP has provided guidance stating that PIP health professionals, who are made up of occupational therapists, nurses, physiotherapists, paramedics and doctors, are now required to share their specific professional background on the PIP report form.
Capita has communicated this requirement to its employees and will continue to enforce it.
So, if your assessor does not reveal their qualification, please contact Capita and we are sure they will be happy to put things right.

So, absolutely no reason why you shouldn't ask if you want to. Just a 'heads up' though. Whatever their qualification you cannot query whether they are suitable to carry out the assessment as Capita has the standard reply 'they are qualified to carry out PIP assessments and undergo training according to the Department and Capitas quality standard.'

In certain cases Capita will make the decision that a doctor needs to carry out the assessment but this is quite rare.

Health Professionals should also have access to doctors for any queries.

Prinzessilein

You can certainly ask what their qualifications are...the last assessor I saw (PiP) told me them right at the start of the assessment (nurse).

An earlier assessor I saw some years ago (DLA not PiP but same company does the assessments...although I do believe the training has been 'tightened-up' since this assessment took place) gave me their medical background when I asked, and also stated that they had some years of specialism in one of my conditions....I was suspicious and checked them out on the internet later - and discovered quite a few embellishments of the truth had been given!

They are carrying out 'assessments' rather than carrying out a medical examination....so they do not need to be qualified doctors...they WILL generally have some sort of medical background, ad will have completed the training to assess for PiP.

w06

Mine volutneered the that she was a nurse and bit of her background experience. So long as you ask politely and non-confrontationally it's a perfectly legitimate question.

wellynever

Yup ask them, but they will usually tell you at the start mine was a nurse.

WhenIam64

You can certainly ask what their qualifications are...the last assessor I saw (PiP) told me them right at the start of the assessment (nurse).

I'd agree with this too. There is no reason to ask (rather than challenge) as it gives you some sort of confidence in the process.

As regards asking a Lawyer if they are qualified, that would be fun too. Anyone making themselves out to be a lawyer and conducting legal services without qualification can be guilty of a criminal act under the Legal Services Act 2007.

poppy12345

I've always been told be the assessment begins. if you ask, i'm sure they'll tell you.