ERSA calls for a joined-up approach between the Work Capability Assessment and employment services

In response to Professor Harrington's second Call for Evidence on the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), ERSA has called for a more joined-up approach between the WCA and other employment services such as the Work Programme and Work Choice. 

In our response, ERSA states that the most important priority is to make sure the WCA is right first time and inappropriate referrals are avoided. ERSA believes that the WCA in its current form, assesses functionality rather than a person's actual ability to work or otherwise. There are also a number of practical considerations DWP should consider which would improve the linkage between the WCA and the Work Programme including:

• Halt Work Programme provision for individuals who are appealing their WCA decision, or at the very least, exclude them from the Work Programme performance metrics;
• Allow customers transferring to Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) post-appeal to remain on the  Programme as a voluntary customer;
• Share the results of the WCA to Work Programme providers in a speedy and effective way, possibly via the Provider Referral and Payment system (PRaP);
• Allow providers to relay information back to the DWP decision maker for consideration, where there is credible and substantive evidence to suggest there has been a flaw in the WCA; and
• Review the terminology to remove references to 'failing' the WCA.

To view our response click here.