Asked by: Matt Rodda (Labour - Reading East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department made when preparing its benefit assessment process of the potential detrimental effects of that process on claimants suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
We have consulted and engaged widely, and continue to do so, with disabled people, carers and representative organisations, to ensure the Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) assessment processes work smoothly and efficiently for all claimants, regardless of their condition or disability.
We do recognise that attending a face-to-face assessment can be a stressful experience for some people, which is why we do not carry out such consultations where there is enough existing evidence to carry out a paper-based assessment.
Where a face-to-face consultation is required, we encourage claimants to bring another person with them to consultations where they would find this helpful to, for example, reassure them or to help them during the consultation. The person chosen is at the discretion of the claimant and might be, but is not limited to, a parent, family member, friend, carer, or advocate. Health Professionals are medically qualified professionals and as such, they have the appropriate skills to enable them to deal with people in a supportive and sensitive way.
Specific condition insight reports on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are now available to all health professionals working for our Assessment Providers.
Asked by: Matt Rodda (Labour - Reading East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training frontline staff of his Department and its outsourced companies receive on talking appropriately with claimants who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
All Department for Work and Pensions staff working with customers complete training that prepares them for the role, including the skills they need to support and communicate with a diverse range of customers. Specific training is provided for different vulnerable groups, with guidance to signpost customers to relevant support, including for former members of the armed forces and people who have been the victim of abuse or domestic violence.
The Department shares its training with external providers.
Asked by: Matt Rodda (Labour - Reading East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training there is for frontline staff of his Department and its outsourced companies on talking appropriately with claimants who are victims of rape.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
All Department for Work and Pensions staff working with customers complete training that prepares them for the role, including the skills they need to support and communicate with a diverse range of customers. Specific training is provided for different vulnerable groups, with guidance to signpost customers to relevant support, including for former members of the armed forces and people who have been the victim of abuse or domestic violence.
The Department shares its training with external providers.
Asked by: Matt Rodda (Labour - Reading East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training frontline staff of his Department and its outsourced companies receive on talking appropriately with claimants who are male victims of domestic violence.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
All Department for Work and Pensions staff working with customers complete training that prepares them for the role, including the skills they need to support and communicate with a diverse range of customers. Specific training is provided for different vulnerable groups, with guidance to signpost customers to relevant support, including for former members of the armed forces and people who have been the victim of abuse or domestic violence.
The Department shares its training with external providers.