Any nurses who work as assessors

[Bingobanging]

And can share the pros and cons?

I’ve submitted an application but still in two minds as to whether to proceed. I’m completely burned out, currently band 7 in a specialist role and either have to switch role or leave nursing altogether.

For PIP claims? There was an AMA by a nurse turned assessor. Maybe in Oct or Nov.

DH did it because he was made to as part of job seekers after an accident left him unable to do ward nursing and left very quickly, it’s amoral.

The pressure from managers to not award PIP overrides everything and the people who stayed were nasty, judgemental individuals who were happy with their job because it gave them power over other people.

This is the one I was thinking of
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/AMA/5206271-i-carry-out-pip-assessments-ama

Found this during my search but haven't read it
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/AMA/4711860-i-assess-disability-claims-ama

Thank you-really useful 😊

I have known a couple of people who have done it. The first was a lovely person who just wanted to help people but it quickly broke her. The other did it as a lone parent to get regular hours but she didn't last long either and left to do a job helping people challenge the hideous decisions that the assessors made. I've supported a lot of clients through their PIP assessments and have met some right assessors in the days when they used to carry out the assessments in peoples homes pre covid.

I felt the same as you a few years ago ( although was never a band 7 ! ) and was totally burnt out. I left Nursing after 30 years to become a benefits advisor, firstly with macmillan and now with another charity. So I help people with disability forms, challenging decisions. After a few years in the job I do earn roughly a band 5 without enhancements ! I generally enjoy the job although find some of the clients challenging. I've never regretted leaving Nursing.

I did it for 2 years, I didn't experience the pressure to 'fail' people, as some seem to have. There is always the odd assessor you will come across who has made it their life ambition to refuse everyone, I met two but they got managed out.

It got boring for me doing the same thing over and over, I did appreciate the experience and it was much less stressful than nursing. Back on the district now though.

I did it for several years as I needed a break from clinical work. I worked for the NHS though, not IAS, Capita etc. Absolutely no targets and no pressure to not award. We recommended what we thought was clinically reasonable. It is up to the DWP/IAS to decide the award, we never heard the outcome. We worked very hard to make sure that the claimants were well assessed and given the best opportunity to put across their story. I get that this set up may not be replicated across the rest of the UK, this was in Scotland.

There is a job called a social prescriber. That might be less stressful

Have you looked at continuing health care? It's nhs so same terms and conditions. When I worked there a few nurses moved from being pip assessors they said it was a much nicer work environment. We had targets to assess eg 5 assessments in a week for a full timer but managed own workload so could do the assessments in two days then spend rest of time at home /in office completing them. There was no making a final descion that was made at panel and no stating patients should not get funding infact we were always advised to go up a band if they fell between the criteria.

That’s interesting-so kind of on the flip side of assessments!

Weegieunicorn. Can I just say that as a PIP now ADP recipient I totally agree that every assessor I’ve met has been both fair and helpful. The system here in Scotland feels totally different from the horror stories I have heard about elsewhere. I had total respect for the assessors who tried hard to get an accurate picture while navigating the system with empathy

The only people I know that left to do the job all returned after a few months.

Good to hear 😊

Hi! Just wondering if you could advise on the company you went with? There are so many out there.
Thank you in advance