Harrington WCA Review (Year 2)

Implementation of the Review's recommendations should be monitored over time and on a regular basis, including focus on: Percentage of claimants failing to return the initial ESA50 questionnaire; Percentage of claimants failing to attend the face-to-face assessment; Percentage of decisions meeting criteria in the Decision Making Quality Assessment Framework; Percentage of reconsiderations received; Percentage of decisions changed following reconsideration; Percentage of appeals received; and Percentage of appeals upheld.

In year three, further research is undertaken to examine in more detail what happens to people found Fit for Work and people placed in the Work Related Activity (including Work Programme outcomes) and Support Groups, and the factors influencing these outcomes.

These changes [to LiMA, based on comments from the stakeholder seminars] should be adopted, and that further changes to LiMA are considered as and when they are raised.

Atos and DWP monitor and audit the use of free text within LiMA to ensure a consistently high standard of accurate reports.

If needed, Atos healthcare professionals are provided with the relevant IT training – especially typing – to enable them to use the LiMA system intelligently and ensure that the quality of the face-to-face assessment does not suffer.

Given the importance of the quality of assessments (especially with Incapacity Benefit reassessment fully underway) DWP should consider tightening the target for C-grade reports.

To improve the transparency of the face-to-face assessment, data on Atos performance and quality should be regularly published.

DWP should continue to monitor the quality and appropriateness of DWP Operations and Atos training.

Where appropriate, there should be sharing of knowledge and training between the various groups involved in the WCA.

DWP should closely monitor the recruitment, and retention, of Atos healthcare professionals in year three.

DWP Operations should improve internal communications to ensure that each part of the claims process and Personal Advisers have a broad understanding of the policy intent of the WCA, what a Fit for Work decision means for a claimant and the support available to them.

Unannounced visits to both Benefits Delivery Centres and Atos Assessment Centres should be carried out during the year three Review.

DWP Operations should continue to monitor the impact of the year one recommendations, particularly the additional 'touch points' with claimants, to better understand whether messages about the support available on Jobseeker's Allowance are fully understood by claimants.

DWP should ensure that Universal Credit considers the risks of applying conditionality to those claimants who are currently employed.

DWP Operations should consider seeking, and using, advice and guidance from the UK Drug Policy Commission and other relevant experts in order to improve and enhance the knowledge and capability of Decision Makers and Personal Advisers in managing these cases (see also Chapter 3).

Similar advice should be sought by Atos for their Mental Function Champions and the UK Drug Policy Commission and other relevant experts could be involved in updating the relevant sections of the Atos Guidance Manual for their healthcare professionals (see also Chapter 3).

A 'gold standard' review be carried out, beginning in early 2012. Future decisions about the mental, intellectual and cognitive descriptors should be based on the findings of this review.

DWP should consider working with relevant representative groups and their clinical advisers to: Update the handbook and guidance used by Atos healthcare professionals; and Produce practical guidance for Decision Makers.

This 'bottom up' model – involving a wide range of experts as well as DWP – should also be adopted in any future changes to the WCA descriptors, where appropriate.

Work on the specific wording of the sensory descriptors and an additional descriptor which addresses the impact of generalised pain and/or fatigue should be considered early on in the year three Review.

As and when changes to the descriptors are made, DWP and other relevant experts should monitor the impact of these changes to ensure both that they are working and that they are not causing any unintended consequences.

DWP consider ways of sharing outcomes of the WCA with Work Programme providers to ensure a smoother claimant journey.

DWP undertake regular audit of Decision Maker performance.