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Suicide Risk and DWP
- Chazy
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4 years 5 months ago #253114 by Chazy
Suicide Risk and DWP was created by Chazy
Good Morning All
My Question is really aimed at the mods.
My Sister had her PIP re assessment via telephone last Friday, it was one hour and thirty eight mins long, my Sister said the assessor was pleasant enough and asked in depth questions around each area involved in PIP. At the end of the call she told my Sister that she would immediately be telephoning my Sisters GP ( no consent asked for or given ) to make them aware that my Sister had talked openly about suicide, she then said it will be a ''Double Contact'' as DWP would also be writing about the suicide risk to her GP as well. About an hour later sure enough a GP from my sisters practice did ring her.
Now forgive my cynical mind here but are DWP and the assessors really concerned about claimants ? or as is my belief, are they now simply covering their backs in light of all the cases where claimants have gone on to commit suicide and all the bad and unwanted press coverage that brings with it ? I am interested to hear how Benefits and Work feel about this and also is this a new approach as the assessor told my sister it is ?
Thank you
My Question is really aimed at the mods.
My Sister had her PIP re assessment via telephone last Friday, it was one hour and thirty eight mins long, my Sister said the assessor was pleasant enough and asked in depth questions around each area involved in PIP. At the end of the call she told my Sister that she would immediately be telephoning my Sisters GP ( no consent asked for or given ) to make them aware that my Sister had talked openly about suicide, she then said it will be a ''Double Contact'' as DWP would also be writing about the suicide risk to her GP as well. About an hour later sure enough a GP from my sisters practice did ring her.
Now forgive my cynical mind here but are DWP and the assessors really concerned about claimants ? or as is my belief, are they now simply covering their backs in light of all the cases where claimants have gone on to commit suicide and all the bad and unwanted press coverage that brings with it ? I am interested to hear how Benefits and Work feel about this and also is this a new approach as the assessor told my sister it is ?
Thank you
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- BIS
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4 years 5 months ago #253119 by BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by BIS on topic Suicide Risk and DWP
Hi Chazy
There are undoubtedly some assessors that behave in the most awful manner, but I have to be fair - there are also some very good ones, who take the job very seriously and do it as diligently as they can.
I have a very close friend whose PIP review was halted because of her mental health and the assessor was so concerned that the police and an ambulance were immediately sent to her home. I'm glad they did. My friend was at immediate risk.
Assessors are supposed to raise their concerns about any vulnerable claimant who voices suicidal thoughts or behaviour during an assessment. It is easy to be cynical but the assessor did the right thing. It doesn't really matter whether you believe they did it as a cynical gesture or not - the assessor sent help and a GP got in touch to follow up. That's a good thing. The assessor and the GP both did their jobs.
BIS
There are undoubtedly some assessors that behave in the most awful manner, but I have to be fair - there are also some very good ones, who take the job very seriously and do it as diligently as they can.
I have a very close friend whose PIP review was halted because of her mental health and the assessor was so concerned that the police and an ambulance were immediately sent to her home. I'm glad they did. My friend was at immediate risk.
Assessors are supposed to raise their concerns about any vulnerable claimant who voices suicidal thoughts or behaviour during an assessment. It is easy to be cynical but the assessor did the right thing. It doesn't really matter whether you believe they did it as a cynical gesture or not - the assessor sent help and a GP got in touch to follow up. That's a good thing. The assessor and the GP both did their jobs.
BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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4 years 5 months ago #253127 by Chazy
Replied by Chazy on topic Suicide Risk and DWP
Hi BIS
Thank you very much for that explanation, it really helps when I feel this way. You are right, it doesn't matter the thoughts behind the action as long as the action stated was acted upon and it was. It does annoy me a little that out of the three assessments my Sister has had in the past this was the only time the assessor was concerned enough to do something about the suicide risk, I know there are good ones out there, mine was very good but I know from here and from my Sisters past assessments that there are those that truly do not seem to do a very good job at all.
Thank you very much for that explanation, it really helps when I feel this way. You are right, it doesn't matter the thoughts behind the action as long as the action stated was acted upon and it was. It does annoy me a little that out of the three assessments my Sister has had in the past this was the only time the assessor was concerned enough to do something about the suicide risk, I know there are good ones out there, mine was very good but I know from here and from my Sisters past assessments that there are those that truly do not seem to do a very good job at all.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Sand625
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