Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many health professionals employed by assessment providers have been dismissed as a result of poor performance in the last three years.

Health Professionals (HPs) are subject to a rigorous recruitment process, followed by a comprehensive training programme. Given the high standards expected of HPs, it is anticipated that a number may not meet the required standard during the training and probation period.

All HPs are subject to on-going monitoring of the standard of their assessments. If any issues are identified there is a process in place to support the HPs to improve the quality of their assessments. Where they fall below the required standards and do not improve, processes are in place to revoke their approval to undertake assessments.

The number of HPs employed by assessment providers who have been dismissed as a result of poor performance in the last three years is shown in the table below:

Please note

• Capita 2022 figures are for the period between 1 January 2022 and 4 November 2022;
• IAS 2022 figures are for the period between 1 January 2022 and 4 November 2022;
• CHDA 2022 figures are for the period between 1 January 2022 and 1 November 2022;
• PIP figures include HPs that were dismissed during their training and probation period;
• PIP figures do not include employees who resigned during the training process;
• CHDA figures include HPs that were dismissed during their probation period;
• CHDA figures do not include HPs that failed to successfully complete their training period, nor those who resigned during the training process.