Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure consistency of (a) initial training and (b) continued professional development for assessors across all PIP assessment providers.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has set out very clear rules for how Personal Independence Payment (PIP) health professionals (HPs) are recruited and trained, and how assessments will be carried out, both in guidance and in regulations. All HPs have been recruited and trained to standards set by, monitored, and approved by DWP.

Both PIP assessment providers (APs), Independent Assessment Services and Capita, are required to supply the department with a training plan. This must set out in detail, the manner in which their training programme, both initial training and refresher training / continuing professional development (CPD), will be delivered. The plan should be developed in co-operation with the department and will be subject to departmental approval.

APs must also evaluate the effectiveness of their training and CPD programmes. The format and timescales of the evaluation should be agreed with the department.

This year’s Health & Disability White Paper committed to developing the skills of HPs. In addition to their professional experience, HPs will take part in training to specialise in the functional impacts of specific health conditions.