Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training in assessing mental health conditions is available to officials dealing with personal independence claims; and what proportion of such staff have received such training.

Training for Health Professionals on how to identify the impact of mental health conditions on a claimant’s ability to carry out the PIP assessment activities is a key feature of both Assessment Providers training programmes.

In addition, both Assessment Providers also have Mental Function Champions who are available to provide advice and support to Health Professionals at any point during the assessment process. These are specialist practitioners who have at least 2 years of post–registration clinical experience in a mental health or learning disability role.

All DWP Operational staff go through a programme of learning and development during their induction into the Department to equip them to support vulnerable people who access our services. They do not undertake specific training to assess mental health as this would need to be carried out by an appropriate medical expert.