What does a disability assessor do?
A disability assessor works as part of a healthcare team based in a clinic, often taking consultations in person, over the phone or via video call. They provide services to their local area, working alongside local GPs, nurses and social care workers in order to correctly assess a claimant’s needs. They will be prepared to process needs according to different forms of disability, including physical, mental, sensory and cognitive needs. Assessing each case fairly and accurately, disability assessors create reports on claimants which they then send to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for processing. They will often be familiar with the IT systems required to make and file each report.
Disability assessor skills and qualifications
As their job requires listening attentively to an individual’s needs, disability assessors are often empathetic and have strong written and verbal communication skills. Other skills and qualifications of a disability assessor might include:
- An ability to multitask;
- Being logical and feeling confident completing the different assessment steps required for the job;
- Strong communication skills;
- Attention to detail.
Disability assessor experience requirements
Disability assessors often have previous experience in other healthcare environments. They may have experience as a psychiatric nurse, paramedic or occupational health advisor. This is because they can draw from this experience and healthcare knowledge to better aid their decision making and report writing. They are often determined and are familiar with dealing with difficult or traumatic situations and understand how to handle them accordingly. Good disability assessors are often unflappable and have a calm approach to their duties.
Disability assessor education and training requirements
A disability assessor has usually completed Disability Assessor Training. These types of courses can take roughly two weeks and can offer training related to classification of disabilities and their levels. They teach the practitioner how to suggest coping strategies to disabled individuals, as well as how to ensure that they receive the right payment.
As a medical practitioner, they will be registered with a UK regulatory body (like the Health and Care Professions Council – HCPC) and often require a year’s worth experience after full registration. These assessor roles are open in particular to nurses, physiotherapists, paramedics or any practitioner registered with the HCPC.
Disability assessor salary expectations
According to Indeed UK salaries, the average salary of a disability assessor is £38,271 per year. Salary may depend on the exact job duties and responsibilities, the employer, location and experience.
Job description samples for similar positions
Are you looking to fill a position other than a disability assessor? If so, other similar positions include:
Disability assessor job description FAQs
What should I look for in a disability assessor CV?
Firstly, it is worth making sure that each candidate is a registered medical practitioner. That way, you can filter out candidates who are qualified for the job from those who are not. Good disability assessor candidates will have a strong previous background as a nurse, physiotherapist, paramedic or other profession registered with the HCPC.
How can I make a disability assessor job description stand out?
You can make a disability assessor job description stand out by including a title that is searchable for candidates. Try to keep it as relevant to the nature of the role as possible. Provide some information about what candidates would be expected to do on a daily basis. It is a good idea to make the work sound interesting, varied and involving visiting individuals in their homes. Being a disability assessor is hard yet rewarding and so a job description should make the role sound worthwhile to the best candidates.
Who does a disability assessor report to?
A disability assessor sends claimant reports to the Department for Work and Pensions. They might also work with other members of an individual’s local community such as GPs, nurses and other healthcare practitioners.
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