DWP Fights To Cover Up Differences Between Atos And Capita PIP Assessments
With many thanks to Benefits And Work.
The DWP is refusing to release training materials which would potentially highlight difference between the way that Atos and Capita carry out PIP assessments, Benefits and Work can reveal.
Back in June Benefits and Work made a Freedom of Information Act request for training and guidance materials issued by Atos to staff carrying out PIP assessments.
The detailed guidance covers issues such as the way in which requests for the recording of PIP assessments are dealt with.
However, the DWP refused to release the guidance on the grounds that it was commercially confidential.
We asked the DWP to reconsider their decision, because these are not commercially confidential matters and there is a strong public interest in knowing how the PIP system is administered on a day-to-day basis.
If there is a difference in the PIP is manged by different companies, then this is also a strong matter of public interest as claimants ought to be able to be sure that their assessment is a standardised one and not one based on which company carries it out.
The DWP, however, have once again refused to release the documents because they consider them to be commercially sensitive.
The DWP told us:
“Release of this information would reveal to their competitors commercially sensitive information which would disadvantage IAS’s [Independent Assessment Service, the name that Atos now use] competitive position in the marketplace.
“This in turn would prejudice the ability of the Department to secure best value for the taxpayer when the contract is re-tendered. Release of this type of key financial information would also undermine the effectiveness of the Department’s future dealings with IAS or other service providers.”
The DWP now routinely refuses a large proportion of freedom of information requests on the grounds of commercial confidentiality, without attempting to justify in any way how anyone’s interests would be threatened.
Benefits and Work is now applying to the Information Commissioner to have the documents disclosed. We’ll let you know what their decision is.
I see from a current FOI request on ‘What Do They Know?’ that the DWP is also citing ‘commercial sensitivity’ in not publishing guidance from Atos and Capita on bathing/showering for people who have epilepsy. I wonder if this is because the guidance differs between the two corporations?
Hi Sasha,
Atos and Capita (and Maximus and DWP) criminal abusers are SUPPOSED to use these “Evidence Based Protocols” in their Quack ‘assessments’ –
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/all_ebm_protocols
The unqualified criminal filth are TOLD to use their “Evidence Based Protocols” in their “WCA Handbook”-
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/work-capability-assessment-handbook-for-healthcare-professionals
Here is the one for Epilepsy –
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/257382/response/632314/attach/19/Epilepsy%20Version%201%20Final%20Copy.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1
—
Quote –
“Severe Condition
A person with a severe degree of epilepsy would normally have frequent grand mal
attacks, (at least more than twice a month), without warning which are manifest with
severe convulsions, in which injury may often be sustained and which might require
hospital care. Anoxic episodes which could occur during seizures, especially those of
a prolonged or serious nature, may result in intellectual deficit. Status epilepticus may
have occurred in the last year. Dangerous post-ictal behaviour may occur which
could last for several days.
Such a person would not hold a driving licence.
Care
The problems are largely related to supervision. For some of the time, when well, the
person would be able to self care in activities such as dressing, personal hygiene,
attending to toilet needs and taking medication.
However, because of the absence of useful warning, the frequency and severity of
fits, and the prolonged recovery phase, he /she would normally require the presence
of another person for the majority of the time, to safely carry out activities of daily
living *******(for example when bathing)*******. The person would not normally be able to safely prepare and cook a meal without supervision.
He/she may be a danger to themselves or other people, because of confusion or
aggressive behaviour, and he/she may be at increased risk of falling and injury.
Once in bed the risk from an epileptic fit is reduced, but there may be the risk of
choking, or developing status epilepticus. If at night confusion or automatic behaviour
leading to wandering is a feature of fits, the person may need someone around to
prevent danger to the person or other people.
The person would normally be able to manage stairs physically but because of the
risk of fits without warning would normally need to be accompanied.
”
—
That is the actual SCIENCE written by EXPERTS that DWP filth and their WCA scum are SUPPOSED to use.
Here are some definitions of what a “Medical Protocol” is –
https://www.google.co.uk/search?source=hp&q=medical+protocol+definition&oq=medical+protocol+definition
–
If the DWP etc criminal vulnerable adult abusing nonces try saying anything different then checkout –
Fraud Act 2006 –
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/35/contents
Fraud by false representation –
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/35/section/2
Fraud by abuse of position –
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/35/section/4
Conspiracy to Defraud –
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/s_to_u/sentencing_manual/conspiracy_to_defraud_(common_law)/
Misconduct in Public Office (up to LIFE in Prison)-
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/l_to_o/misconduct_in_public_office/
the dwp are a law unto themselves I have just had an assessment for the new government initiative “mug a cripple” otherwise known as transfer from dla to pip, I have written to the dwp with a number of questions over a period of time and whilst I have received responses from them they have never actually answered a single question they are very good at sending numerous questionnaires to people with the threat that if you do not answer their questions your benefits will stop
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