What does it mean to become a Disability Assessor?
By becoming a Disability Assessor, you will have the opportunity to take your career to the next level – expanding your knowledge, broadening your experience and setting yourself on a highly rewarding career path with exceptional opportunities for development.
As a healthcare professional taking a role as a Disability Assessor at Independent Assessment Services, you’ll make a difference to your own life and to that of others, by using your clinical expertise in a new, objective way. You will be part of a team that prides itself on a people-centred approach, believing in supporting and listening to team members, and making sure to always recognise and reward good performance!
How can you help make a difference?
Ultimately your job is to complete a fair, accurate and concise report having carried out your assessment with individuals who have a varied range of physical and/or mental health disabilities, seeking to receive the PIP benefit scheme. By doing this, and treating everyone with professionalism and respect, you can make a real difference to each claimant’s experience during this process.
You will do things like:
- Carry out telephone, face-to-face and video consultations
- Use your clinical expertise to analyse a claimant’s information and write an accurate detailed report that is sent on to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), so they can make a decision on whether a claimant is eligible for the PIP benefit- this helps people with a wide variety of disabilities to cover the extra costs that they may face when trying to lead a fully active and independent life
- Liaise with medical teams involved with a person’s care when necessary, for example GPs, community psychiatric nurses, specialist nurses, or social care teams
Candidate in focus – Jade, Registered Nurse
We caught up with Jade, a wonderful registered nurse who has recently started her new role as Disability Assessor at Independent Assessment Services.
What is it like being a Disability Assessor, please describe a typical day? I begin at 8.45am, some days we will have a team meeting to discuss anything new in the company, or just a general catch up. I’ll start prep for my first assessment, and then once I’ve completed the call which usually takes around an hour, I will spend roughly another hour writing the report. I’ll have a small break, and then start my next prep and assessment, followed by lunch, and then return for my last assessment of the day!
What was the training like when you first joined? Training was great, it is all very new, but the team of trainers are all so supportive and you’re in a group with everyone who is in the same situation as you! There is a lot of new information to cover, which is delivered in different ways, such as group work and independent learning, there’s a style to suit everyone.
What skills have you transferred from previous roles to help you in your job as a Disability Assessor? Critical thinking has been a big one for me, being able to assess in a holistic way. Communication skills are key, I had always worked in a face-to-face setting as a nurse, so it was a new style for me to learn being telephone based and my confidence has grown massively over the last 10 weeks.
What new skills have you learned and in what ways have you developed clinically and non-clinically? Time management skills have never been my biggest strength – I have learnt how to improve this over the course of my time at IAS without feeling overwhelmed. In my previous role as an ICU nurse, I have always worked at a fast pace, however with a more hands-on approach. I have also learnt a lot about different conditions, and how they can affect people in a more long-term manner, as opposed to treating a problem in the here and now, and the impact these conditions can have on daily living.
What qualities would you say makes a good Disability Assessor? The ability to actively listen to the claimant, being able to show empathy and an understanding of what claimants are experiencing and dealing with on a day-to-day basis and how they can manage daily living with their disability is crucial.
What do you like the most about the role and what do you find most challenging? I like the critical thinking aspect of the role, and how as a Disability Assessor you must create a report based on a holistic point of view. The challenging aspect for me is to put aside the treatment side of my nursing background, which I believe is a big step for any nurse who has previously worked in a hands-on setting.
What are the benefits of working at Independent Assessment Services (IAS)? / What are your thoughts on the benefits package? IAS is a fantastic company to work for, it is such a supportive setting. You are assigned a team from the very beginning, and I would’ve been absolutely lost without mine! Everyone is so helpful and encouraging when you need it. The benefits package provided by the company are amazing, especially aspects such as the overtime bonuses.
Where do you see yourself going next in your career? I’d to build up my skills so that in the future, I could become a Clinical Support Lead within the company.
How did you find the application and recruitment process, with the support provided by Luke? Please describe your experience. I had enquired at a few different recruitment companies about the role and spoke to different recruitment consultants at this time. I instantly knew after speaking to Luke that he was who I wanted to progress with! The support and advice he offered was second to none, he walked me through every step of the way and was never too busy to handle any enquires I had and went above and beyond to ensure I was comfortable and confident and well prepared for my interview.
He talked me through each stage of the process, so I knew exactly what to expect. I felt like this was crucial for my interview and the application process and is the reason why I was a successful applicant. Luke not only supported me throughout my application and interview, but he has also continued to check in on me since I began the role, making sure everything is running smoothly. His support did not end when I started with IAS and is still ongoing which is amazing.
How can someone prepare for an interview to become a Disability Assessor? A big one for me would be to investigate critical thinking and find what it means to you. Consider what skills you possess, things you are not so good at (we all have them!), and what you want to build on. Identifying and acknowledging this early on is beneficial to helping you overcome it!
Would you recommend this career change to a friend of colleague, and would you recommend working with TFS Healthcare? YES!! I have referred friends and colleagues to Luke already, this role has really changed my life for the better. As I have a young family, I found that as an ICU nurse, the long shifts, night shifts and weekend work were really taking a toll and I was finding it hard to find the perfect work/life balance. However, now I’ve found it! I couldn’t fault any aspect of TFS, and Luke in particular – it is a fantastic company to work with.
About the company
Independent Assessment Services is one of the UK’s leading assessment services providers. They deliver independent health and disability assessments on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions across the UK. As a trusted partner in the assessment process, they combine professionalism and compassion making assessments inclusive for all.
Who we are looking for:
- RGN, RMN, RLD, Paramedic, Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist
- 12 months post reg clinical experience minimum
- Full registration with NMC/HCPC with no restrictions on pin
- Ability to work autonomously and I.T competency would be beneficial
- Enthusiastic about career development
- Due to the nature of this role, strong written and oral communication is required as well as confident interpersonal skills
No previous experience is required, as a comprehensive training masterclass is provided to ensure you are fully prepared to successfully undertake this role.
Benefits:
- Salary: London – starting at £42,000, outside of London starting at £35,000 – £41,000 dependent on location
- Permanent position with flexible, part-time opportunities available after the full-time training is complete (minimum requirement of 22.5 hrs per week)
- 25 days’ annual leave, with option to buy and sell up to 10 days, plus all bank holidays off
- Pension scheme matching up to 10% of your contributions and as standard, you will retain earnings from any existing pensions (such as NHS)
- Life assurance, private medical insurance, and medical indemnity insurance
- Continuous CPD support provided, plus reimbursement of your annual HCPC/NMC registration fee
- Flexible benefits, including dental and travel insurance
- And many more!
Disability Assessor homebased opportunities
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, these assessments are currently being successfully conducted over the telephone and therefore we can now also offer the option of permanent homebased roles as a Disability Assessor. Training will be a mixture of virtual and assessment centre based to ensure the right level of support and learning is offered. To be eligible, you must have an appropriate work space within your home.
Secure your dream role with TFS Healthcare
If you’re looking to further progress your career by becoming a Disability Assessor or would like to discuss other opportunities within healthcare, we’d love to hear from you on 020 7407 1323 or email dacareers@tfshealthcare.co.uk.