Working as a Disability Assessor: FAQs
What does being a Disability Assessor involve?
Working as a Disability Assessor is a challenging and rewarding profession, and our team are proud of what they do.
You will use your skills as a healthcare professional to play a crucial role in the disability assessment process – a service that touches the lives of millions of people in the UK.
You will meet people making a claim for the Personal Independent Payment (PIP) benefit in relation to a disability and hold a consultation with them.
You will review information about them in advance of the appointment, ask a series of questions, make an assessment, and then use this to produce a report.
Your report will help the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to make their PIP benefits decisions. This ensures that the system is fair and that those who are most in need of help and support receive it.
The conditions and impairments of those making a claim are often complex, so you will broaden your clinical experience and knowledge.
Hear first-hand from our Disability Assessors about their experience of working at Advo Health.
Who can become a Disability Assessor?
We can only accept applications from Paramedics, Nurses, Occupational Therapists or Physiotherapists who are registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) or Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC).
You must also have 12 months of experience working within your related field.
Many of our Disability Assessor are Paramedics, Nurses, Occupational Therapists or Physiotherapists who made the move to improve their work life balance or to diversify their career.
What training and support would I be given?
You do not need to worry about preparing for the job.
We will give you all the training, skills and support that you need to thrive in your role as a Disability Assessor.
The first step is completing your initial training as part of your induction period. The first two days of your induction will be held in-person at our Bristol head office, with the rest of the training being held remotely. This induction training period lasts for five weeks.
Take a look at what to expect during your first two days with us.
Beyond this you will receive up to 3 hours per month of protected CPD time with access to ongoing training resources and support to develop in your role.
Our training course is Royal College of Nursing (RCN) accredited and adheres to the standards set by leading healthcare regulators and professional bodies, including the NMC, HCPC and ABHI.
What about maintaining my professional registration and knowledge?
Advo will cover the costs of your annual professional membership with one of the following bodies:
- Health Care Practitioners Council (HCPC)
- Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
You will also be provided with training and CPD time as part of your role.
Can I develop into a more senior role?
Yes. You will have the opportunity to progress through our salary scale at key points, which are at six months of service and then 12 months of service.
As you progress you will also be able to add variety to your role in the form of mentoring and providing clinical support to other Disability Assessors.
Longer term and depending on opportunities within your area, you may also be able to progress down a management route.
Almost all our mentors, trainers and managers joined us as an entry-level Disability Assessor. We believe in nurturing home-grown talent and promoting people from within.
Who will be in my team?
You will be part of our larger nationwide community of around 200 like-minded healthcare professionals, all working as Disability Assessors from home or one of our 50+ clinics
This wider community is broken down into smaller regional teams based within clinic locations and we also have a team of Telephone Disability Assessors, working from home to deliver consultations remotely.
You will work independently but will have regular contact with your line manager, colleagues, and support on hand whenever you need it.
Your mentor, who is an experienced Disability Assessor, will connect or meet with you at least once a month and will also be in regular contact with you over the phone and online.
Where would my work location be?
Disability Assessor roles:
In this role, you will have a clinic base where you will work from and hold consultations with people in person.
Every clinic is different, but most are in commercial buildings in central locations to meet the travel and accessibility needs of those attending for a consultation.
Telephone Disability Assessor roles:
Day-to-day you will work from home and hold consultations over the phone.
Although you will be home based, you will also have a clinic base where you will be encouraged to meet with others and attend training at regular intervals.
You will be part of a team of Telephone Disability Assessors all working from home across the country and connecting with each other via our leading internal communications tools.
Where has this new profession come from?
Disability assessments are not new. They have existed in one form or another since our benefits system was first introduced.
In 2012 the Government introduced the Welfare Reform Act. This move was about making benefits fairer for everyone and improving the whole system in the UK, including childcare, housing and employment benefits.
The Personal Independent Payment (PIP) benefit was introduced and since then anyone making a claim has had to have an independent assessment of their condition.
These consultations must be carried out by a certified Disability Assessor with the right clinical background and training.
Will I deal with a lot of unhappy people?
More than 96% of the people who have had a Personal Independent Payment (PIP) consultation with us said that they had a positive experience.
Many of these people have benefited from an assessment with a caring and understanding Disability Assessor who has supported them through a difficult process.
What will my salary and benefits package look like?
Take a look at the ‘Why work at Advo‘ section for more details about our rewarding salary and benefits structure.