WCA Audio Recording – Important (& disgraceful) update
by Tia Junior - TiaJunior Blogspot
I put this contradiction to a JCP District Manager as follows:
“You are no doubt aware of the controversy and delays around the facility to audio record WCAs. In terms of the availability of equipment and the impact this might have on WCA scheduling, DWP has been quite clear that if a claimant wishes a WCA to be recorded, Atos must comply. It has further stated in direct response to a FoI request:
“……..if a claimant is unable to attend their WCA because Atos Healthcare are (sic) unable to comply with the request the postponement will not be attributed to the claimant.”
However, the Atos website (http://blog.atoshealthcare.com/2012/07/audio-recording-of-the-wca/#respond) states:
“We will make every effort to accommodate requests for this service and hope that we will be able to meet demand. However, under the terms of our contract with the Department, we cannot postpone an assessment on the basis of audio-recording.”
I would like to know:
1) Who is right and who is wrong?
2) Assuming it is Atos, who authorized this posting on their website?
3) How quickly will it be corrected?
4) Who will now contact any claimants who have been wrongly advised by Atos and rearrange their appointments as necessary?
I would like a clear, point by point answer.”
The reply was as follows:
“Thank you for your e-mail of 17 July. You ask for a point-by-point answer, but this may not be necessary in view of this reply, taken from the latest published guidance agreed between DWP and Atos.
We requested Atos to attempt to accommodate requests for audio recordings made in advance of the assessment. We introduced a limited facility to audio record at a time when we anticipated only small numbers of requests. Since that time, the number of requests has increased significantly and this has put pressure on Atos’ ability to provide sufficient capacity to meet all requests.
We have agreed with Atos that they can inform claimants when a recording cannot be made, and in these circumstances, that the WCA process should continue.
We are currently looking at ways to improve the availability of audio recording in the short term and Atos have indicated that it remains committed to assist us in the evaluation of the audio recording of Work Capability Assessments later in the year.”
My response has been:
“Thank you for your prompt reply dated 17th July – you have certainly fuelled an already raging fire in what you have said. Perhaps you can point me to where I can find a copy of the publication you mention.
It is of course totally wrong that claimants should be made to suffer the consequences of the appalling way in which this project has been organised and the ineffective way it is being managed now. Atos only has 11 recording machines to service 141 MACs, so the logistical problems would be self-evident from the outset. Add to this the fact that anything up to 10 of them have been out of commission on occasions and you have effectively removed the facility altogether.
Remember, the trial took place early last year & Atos published its report in June 2011, although you chose not to release it for 12 months whilst it was “under consideration”. One of the obvious considerations, best in the form of a risk analysis (standard management best-practice) would have been “what if we have underestimated demand?” and you would have devised a contingency plan according. From what you have said, the “contingency” is to refuse the facility as and when you think it appropriate on a random basis. This of course allows Atos a free hand to refuse, whether equipment is available or not – we cannot check and you will not be policing. You cannot possibly offer the facility to some and not to others. You will no doubt then use this highly suppressed & distorted level of demand to support the underlying strategy, which I have to say is pretty transparent.
There has been an obvious plan in DWP to do all it can to falsely engineer down demand, so that at some stage the exercise can be deemed cost ineffective and abandoned. It rather looks like the plan has backfired and DWP has egg on its face again. Would you consider recording a session with your GP? Of course not, so why then with an Atos HCP? It is of course a simple matter of trust, confidence and integrity all of which have clearly fallen a long way short of what is acceptable.
I do not wish to question your authority, but as you have directly contradicted your FoI Act colleagues and the statement Chris Grayling made in the HoC (recorded in Hansard), how can you authenticate what you have said here? Certainly the MP who extracted the statement from the Minister in the HoC will be interested to know that he has been lied to. The Minister promised the facility to anyone who requests it.”
I will post the reply I receive next.
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Totally disgraceful and unacceptable
The DWP have told you one thing then reneged on their word in favour of a bunch of money grabbing incompetents.
NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!
but if no one gets a recorded one they simpleys says no one wanted it so do not need to buy any thus telling mps nobody wanted theirs recorded and by doing so atos gets off the hook again its down right devious lot of shi— jeff3
And now we know they have a grand total of *drum roll*
eleven machines…
No wonder the DWP decided to do a U turn and say that if a machine is not available the appointment must be attended. Otherwise it would grind to a halt.
I know, given the army have had to bale out G4S maybe the Royal Signals have some kit that could be given to a private contractor.
E
What I meant to say was, everyone should bring their family soliciter along or failing that, boycott it en masse, and if their benifits are cut off, have a large (peaceful) march in London as the Olympics are going on.
I for one will treat any attempt to take my benifits as I would as I would an attempt to get me sent to prison or indeed sent to the gallows. Without my benifits I can use my savings for two or three years, then I either have to depend on my family, find a rich girlfriend who wants a nobody like me, starve or shoplift. So even though it might cost £100 I’ll have my family lawyer by me-it’s too important not to.
Strange how criminals and indeed gangsters have the right to a lawyer and a recorded interview, but not people who just want to avoid being forced into crime, starvation, total family dependency or slave labour.
Large peaceful marches are not going to be tolerated during the Adlympics.
While I agree Thomas I just don’t think it would happen
People are going to be scared to lose benefits, won’t necessarily be able to afford to attend a protest and/or not be well enough to.
How much would it cost to have a solicitor attend?
The problem I faced was probably the same as everyone else. Recording is needed but when I was first told that I was to have a medical examination I believed it was going to be a medical examination. I did not want someone with me during what I thought was to be a ‘private’ meeting. I wanted to maintain my privacy as much as I could.
I wasn’t offered the chance of having my assessment redorded but would not have known that it needed to be had it been offered.
Whilst I am quietly confident that all will come right in the end. now I realise that I should have taken some one with me in the very least. When a medical examination is required, the claimant has no idea that they need it putting down, on disc or in writting. Atos & DWP are able to maintain their need for the meeting to be non-protected.
It has to be regulated. All assessments, for what ever the reason for them, must be recorded across the board. Nothing less will do.
The cost of a solicitor for most of us, is exspensive. Most can earn up wards of £100 per hour by not leaving their office. You’d have to match that to get them off their seat. Why should I have to fork out £100 per hour to pay to receive some thing that I am entitled to? If I am entitled to it I should receive it. The fault lies in the way the DWP handle the claim, with Atos standing along side them. As the land lies just now, both these Departments can write their own regulations as to the why and where for’s of how it will be dealt with. I believe that there may well be a human rights issue here too.
Like yourself Martin, i believed my first Atos was as stated ‘a medical examination’, i went in alone, left feeling id been heard.
Only when i recieved the result of 9points and saw the lies written, did i realise the sickening truth.
I could not afford a solicitor then nor now and i certainly dont have a ‘family one’.
Those who can and do? All the best to them but its safe to say the majority cannot afford nor do have on hand.
If they/we, all could do and did do, we’d not be in this mess. Gov know full well we cant and hence why such deceit and deliberation to keep us from any such luxury.