Andrew Percy – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Percy on 2015-10-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that (a) health workers, (b) Jobcentre Plus staff and (c) his Department’s staff have received adequate training to respond to the needs of people with Crohn’s disease and Colitis, which meets the six main standards set out in the Standards for the Healthcare of People who have Inflammatory Bowel Disease, 2013 update.

Justin Tomlinson

Guidance and training for Healthcare professionals advising the Department is developed by providers for their own staff. Both PIP and ESA assessments are based on function, not diagnosis or treatment.

All Jobcentre Plus work coaches are trained to have the skills required to support customers with health conditions and disabilities. They have access to information which gives specific detail around various illnesses, the effects those illnesses are likely to have and access to sites such as NHS Choices. Work coaches can also use the “Employment, Health Conditions and Disabilities” intranet guide notes which provide background on specific disabilities /conditions and advice on good practice when interviewing. Finally, via the local District Provision tool, many Work Coaches are able to signpost claimants to organisations such as Crohns and Colitis UK.

Departmental Decision Makers are given awareness of conditions, incapacities and their effects. Over time and with updates, learning and development they gather more information to increase their knowledgebase. They are also able to obtain specific advice on individual cases from Healthcare professionals employed by providers working for the Department.