Page 2 | Leaving my PIP assessor job

BTDoglover · 2025-01-06T23:33:16+00:00

I am looking to leave my role as a pip assessor as I have come to realise it is that what is triggering my poor mental health! The job is terrible and applies so much pressure on you each day and then penalised for getting behind with targets when asking for help. Assessments are unfair and do not allow for a true representation of the claimants condition and the whole process is soul destroying I have come to realise. I am looking for advice from others who have had similar experiences in the job and how you went about leaving. I am currently off sick as of today as I really cannot face another day there. I am considering handing in my notice of a shorter period than stated in my contract but don't know if this will go against me. Thanks for reading!

Buttermill · 07/01/2025 00:45

Can I ask @BTDoglover and @PIPnamechanged do you think pay differs in each company? I would have thought the processes are pretty much the same? Are standards not sort of carried through in all companies? We have performance audit target, have to submit so many reports within 24-72 hours and achieve a fit for purpose score each month and so 3 ax daily.

Original poster

BTDoglover · 07/01/2025 00:50

Buttermill · 07/01/2025 00:43

I am under one year, everyone i did my training with with has now left already and people are dropping like flies 😳 we also do 3 assessments a day separated into 3 separate slots and allocated one hour for each call which always runs over especially if an interpretator case or complex case will take 1.5-2 hours. 1 hour is not enough time to gather all the relevant information for complex cases. I'm thinking of taking a pay cut and finding other wfh jobs. Can't return to wards sadly due to childcare lone parent with no support I need a basic Monday to Friday and to be available for school drop off and collection but luckily has school transport so I dont have to leave home or else I couldn't even do this job

I am also a lone parent but luckily family help me out. My son has just been diagnosed with ADHD so have been having a lot of pressure to do with all of that too and combined with this job, it's all too much. Yeah a lot of mine who I trained with left pretty soon too! I would love to talk to them now but have no contact with WFH. What company are you with?

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PIPnamechanged · 07/01/2025 00:59

WFH is great in a lot of ways with the practicalities of school runs etc, but it’s so isolating. We didn’t have a Christmas night out, no collections when someone leaves/goes on mat leave. I don’t really feel like I have colleagues at all.

nats2010 · 07/01/2025 01:06

BTDoglover · 07/01/2025 00:09

Thank you for sharing, this is literally me aswell! Did you just leave immediately or did you have to work 12 weeks notice?
The thought of doing one more day there fills me with dread!

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I think I ended up off a few weeks sick and then left but I don't believe the notice period was as long as yours. I'm glad you didn't quit your other job and that you have something to go back to.
Oh I remember the days well...... really felt like you too.....I could have cried!!! It wasn't the clients that were my issue, it was everything to do with the system that employed me and all the non clinical managers. Absolutely woeful.
Are you in a position to just hand in your notice and if necessary cut your losses?

JoyousPinkPeer · 07/01/2025 10:55

You can't just habd in your notice and not give the correct notice period. I would ring HR abd say I'm writing my resignation letter as the job is making me ill ... can we agree a shorter notice period or should I remain off sick for the full notice period? Let them decide so you are not breaching your contract.

Original poster

BTDoglover · 07/01/2025 18:16

DailySnail · 07/01/2025 00:06

I was an assessor as well. It absolutely broke me. As someone who suffered with mild anxiety anyway, it made me realize that there but for the grace of God go I. How easy it would be to be in any of those people's shoes with a few changes in circumstance.l. How much they just needed a break but weren't saying the right things or filling in the right boxes to get the funding. The constant pushing to do more and be faster. So dehumanizing.

I hated the job and I hated myself for doing the job. I honestly had a huge mental health crisis and it was largely in part to the job. Clearly I was not cut out for the role!

I honestly know how you feel, it's terrible how so many members of staff feel the same. My manager said to me today that the average length of service is 18 months! They ought to do more to retain staff than just training up newbies all of the time. I think there cones a point when you have to step away and look after yourself. Thanks for sharing

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Original poster

BTDoglover · 07/01/2025 18:24

nats2010 · 07/01/2025 01:06

I think I ended up off a few weeks sick and then left but I don't believe the notice period was as long as yours. I'm glad you didn't quit your other job and that you have something to go back to.
Oh I remember the days well...... really felt like you too.....I could have cried!!! It wasn't the clients that were my issue, it was everything to do with the system that employed me and all the non clinical managers. Absolutely woeful.
Are you in a position to just hand in your notice and if necessary cut your losses?

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I have spoken to my manager today and they have said I can give a month notice so will probs end up doing that. Yeah I'm so glad I have something to fall back on!

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Original poster

BTDoglover · 07/01/2025 18:25

PIPnamechanged · 07/01/2025 00:59

WFH is great in a lot of ways with the practicalities of school runs etc, but it’s so isolating. We didn’t have a Christmas night out, no collections when someone leaves/goes on mat leave. I don’t really feel like I have colleagues at all.

Yeah same, it's very isolating for sure. I prefer the face to face interaction. We had no Xmas night out either as everyone lives so far away from each other.

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Original poster

BTDoglover · 07/01/2025 18:26

Buttermill · 07/01/2025 00:45

Can I ask @BTDoglover and @PIPnamechanged do you think pay differs in each company? I would have thought the processes are pretty much the same? Are standards not sort of carried through in all companies? We have performance audit target, have to submit so many reports within 24-72 hours and achieve a fit for purpose score each month and so 3 ax daily.

Yes we do 3 daily aswell and have so many of them audited. But I find the audits are so inconsistent as well!

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Nurse4 · 08/03/2025 17:09

Hi!

I hope you don't mind me tagging along - I'm about to apply with either Maximus or Capita.
What is the recruitment process like?
And the training? I've seen that Maximus offers 6 weeks training but it's 12 weeks with Capita, did you feel 6 weeks was enough to learn everything?
Do you have good support from coworkers/management?
Is there a lot of pressure to meet targets? Or pressure to decline applicants?

So sorry for all of the questions, any insight would be great!
Thank you

Nurse4 · 08/03/2025 17:20

@PIPnamechanged
Hi!
I hope you don't mind me jumping on - I'm about to apply with either Maximus or Capita.
What is the recruitment process like?
And the training? I've seen that Maximus offers 6 weeks training but it's 12 weeks with Capita, did you feel 6 weeks was enough to learn everything?
Do you have good support from coworkers/management?
Is there a lot of pressure to meet targets? Or pressure to decline applicants?
Is there any company sick pay?
So sorry for all of the questions, any insight would be great!
Thank you

Mamamedic23 · 24/11/2025 00:37

PIPnamechanged · 07/01/2025 00:38

Maximus.

There are lots of things wrong (the assessment complexity level being the biggest issue, I think), but yours does sound worse.

Do you WFH, or are you in office?

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Hi, I'm interviewing with maximus at mo and could really do with some insight if you wouldn't mind?
Tia