Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will list (a) the qualification levels of assessors who undertake work capability assessments or personal independence payment health assessments and (b) the proportion of assessors who are members of professional bodies.

The Department has set clear requirements on the professions, skills, experience and training of Health Professionals (HPs) employed by Assessment Providers to carry out health assessments.

All HPs undertaking Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments must be an occupational therapist, level 1 nurse, physiotherapist, paramedic or doctor.

Work Capability Assessments are carried out by HPs who are an occupational therapist, nurse, physiotherapist or doctor.

All HPs undertaking assessments on behalf of the Department must be fully registered with the relevant licensing body (i.e. doctors must have a license to practise): have no sanctions attached to registration unless they relate to disability; have at least 2 years post full registration experience or less than 2 years post full registration experience by individual agreement with the Authority and have also met requirements around training, experience and competence.

Approval for an HP must be conferred by the Department’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO) on behalf of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.