Update on Proposed New WCA Descriptors (EBR)

8/22/2012 09:00:00 am BenefitScroungingScum 8 Comments

We've been passed the latest version of the Evidence Based Review WCA descriptors for people to comment on and scrutinise. This version has to be finalised by the end of the week so there isn't much time. If you leave comments below I can direct the right people to read them but due to health issues I won't be able to do more than that. There's also a slightly different scoring system proposed, but for consultation purposes all you really need to know is that the N/A, Occasional, Frequent, Most boxes roughly correlate to points as follows, 0, 6, 9, 15

Health prevents me from going through this in the detail it requires but my initial impression is that it has lost much of the simplicity of the earlier draft and it appears to me that this is much closer to what a joint test for ESA and PIP would look like... However, testing an alternative version of a WCA can only be a good thing if the DWP are sensible enough to compare both proposals and cherry pick the best parts..

But please bear in mind - intense pain and lots of oramorph do not make for good cognitive functioning!

Movement - within a work environment or travelling to work
1.     Mobilising Mobilising unaided by another person with or without a walking stick, manual wheelchair or other aid normally used, for long periods indoors and outdoors without stopping, and climbing a flight of 12 steps without discomfort, exhaustion or risk of falling. This must be done reliably, repeatedly, safely and in a timely manner, which takes into account speed, time taken and manner of mobilising.
a	Has no difficulty mobilising indoors and outdoors
		N/A	Occ	Freq	Most
b	Cannot climb or descend a flight of 12 steps
c	Has some difficulty[1] mobilizing, indoors and outdoors, for long periods[2]
d	Has significant difficulty[3] mobilising, indoors and outdoors, for long periods
e	Has some difficulty mobilising, indoors and outdoors, for short periods[4]
f	Has significant difficulty mobilizing, indoors and outdoors, for short periods
2.     Getting About Getting to familiar and unfamiliar places reliably, repeatedly, safely and in a timely manner, unaided by another person.
a	Has no difficulty getting to familiar and unfamiliar places.
		N/A	Occ	Freq	Most
b	Because of distress or disorientation has some difficulty getting to unfamiliar places
c	Because of distress or disorientation has significant difficulty getting to unfamiliar places
d	Because of distress or disorientation has some difficulty getting to familiar places
e	Because of distress or disorientation has significant difficulty getting to familiar places
3.     Navigating Navigating around familiar and unfamiliar places unaided by another person reliably, repeatedly, safely and in a timely manner, using a guide dog or other aid if normally used.
a	Able to navigate around familiar and unfamiliar places
		N/A	Occ	Freq	Most
b	Has some difficulty navigating around unfamiliar surroundings, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment
c	Has significant difficulty navigating around unfamiliar surroundings, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment
d	Has some difficulty navigating around familiar surroundings, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment
e	Has significant difficulty navigating around familiar surroundings, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment

Movement – at a work station

4.     Standing and sitting Reliably, repeatedly, safely and in a timely manner, using any aid that it is reasonable to expect them to use, and without receiving physical assistance from another person: ·         Staying in one position (such as a workstation) for at least an hour, either by standing, sitting or a combination of the two, and ·         Moving between this position and another.

a

Able to stay in one position for at least an hour, either by standing, sitting or a combination of the two, and able to move between this position and another

Claimant cannot:

N/A

Occ

Freq

Most

b

Stay in one position (either by standing, sitting, or a combination of the two) unassisted by another person in one place for more than one hour without significant discomfort, loss of balance or exhaustion

c

Stay in one position unassisted by another person in one place for more than 30 minutes (either by standing, sitting, or a combination of the two)  without significant discomfort, loss of balance or exhaustion

d

Move from a seated position to a mobilising position without physical assistance from another person

5.     Reaching, picking up and moving Reaching up, down or sideways a reasonable distance, and picking up and move a range of differently-sized objects up to 1kg

a

Has no difficulty reaching and picking up objects

Due to difficulties with movement, strength, sensation or co-ordination of the upper body (arms, shoulders, back, neck) and/or lower body (hips, knees, ankles), cannot repeatedly, reliably and safely, without significant discomfort or exhaustion, from standing or sitting:

N/A

Occ

Freq

Most

b

Reach up, down or sideways a reasonable distance and reach and pick up and move a range of differently-sized objects up to 1kg (e.g. so as to reach and pick up something off a high or low shelf)

c

Pick up and move a an object up to 1kg with either hand

d

Pick up and move a bulky object (such as a cardboard box) up to 2kg

e

Reach up, down (i.e. through bending, kneeling or squatting) and sideways a reasonable distance

6.     Manual dexterity/ hand movement

a

Has no difficulty with finger, hand or wrist movements/manual dexterity

Has difficulty in one or both hands in repeatedly, reliably, safely and in a timely manner without significant discomfort or pain:

N/A

Occ

Freq

Most

b

Gripping and turning an object such as a: ·         door handle, tap, lid or cap (so as to open a bottle/jar) ·         dial on a radio or piece of machinery

c

Gripping and holding an object such as a: ·         book weighing 500gms

d

Carrying out fine motor/finger movements such as: ·         doing up a button on a blouse or shirt, ·         tying a knot ·         opening a door with a key ·         picking up and moving a 5 pence coin – so as to insert into a slot in a machine/box ·         turning the pages of a book

e

Creating with the dominant hand a legible message of one sentence

e

Using a keyboard, mouse, cash till, telephone keypad, or similar piece of equipment/machinery

Task – task performance

7.     Executing Tasks Executing tasks reliably, repeatedly, safely and in a timely manner, unaided by another person.

a

Has no difficulty executing tasks

N/A

Occ

Freq

Most

b

Needs additional time to complete some tasks such that the task would take somewhat longer

c

Needs additional time to complete some tasks such that the task would take significantly longer

d

Needs additional time to complete most tasks such that the task would take somewhat longer

e

Needs additional time to complete most tasks such that the task would take significantly longer

8.     Maintaining Focus Maintain focus to complete tasks reliably, repeatedly, safely and in a timely manner, unaided by another person.

a

Has no difficulty maintaining focus

N/A

Occ

Freq

Most

b

Due to poor memory or concentration, has difficulty maintaining focus on some tasks[5]

c

Due to poor memory or concentration, has difficulty maintaining focus on most tasks

d

Due to poor memory or concentration, has difficulty maintaining focus on all tasks

9. Learning Tasks Learning processes necessary to having a job, and undertaking tasks within it

a

Is able to learn processes necessary to having a job

No longer requires support to carry out the task after

2-3 occasions

Between 4 and 9 occasions

10 or more occasions

Cannot learn task

b

Has difficulties learning a complex task[6]

c

Has difficulties learning a moderately complex task

d

Has difficulties learning a simple task

Task - risk

10.  Awareness of Hazards Being aware of potential hazards.

a

Is fully aware of potential hazards

N/A

Occ

Freq

Most

b

Some reduced awareness of hazards leads to risk(s) of harm to self or others, or of damage to property or possessions

c

Moderately reduced awareness of hazards leads to risk(s) of harm to self or others, or of damage to property or possessions

d

Significantly reduced awareness of hazards leads to risk(s) of harm to self or others, or of damage to property or possessions

11. Consciousness

a

Does not experience episodes of lost or altered consciousness

At least twice in last 6 months

At least once a month in the last 6 months

At least once a week

b

Has an involuntary episode of lost or altered consciousness resulting in significant disrupted awareness or concentration with a recovery time that is normally less than one hour

c

Has an involuntary episode of lost or altered consciousness resulting in significant disrupted awareness or concentration with a recovery time that is normally more than one hour

12. Bladder/ bowel continence

a

Has no difficulty with continence

N/A

Occ

Freq

Most

b

Experiences an unusual and/or frequent need to use the toilet (or manage a collecting device), due to an underlying health condition or the side effects of essential medication

c

Without immediate urgent access[2] to a toilet, suitably modified where appropriate, would experience loss of control

d

Has experienced unpredictable or recurrent loss of control[1]

Communication
13. Understanding communication Understanding communication reliably, repeatedly, safely and in a timely manner, by both verbal means (such as hearing or lip reading), non-verbal means (such as intonation or body language) and written means (such as reading 16 point print or Braille), using any aid it is reasonable to expect them to use
a		Has no difficulty understanding communication
Due to sensory, cognitive or social difficulties:			N/A	Occ	Freq	Most
b		Has some difficulty understanding complex information from a stranger
c		Has significant difficulty understanding complex information from a stranger
d		Has some difficulty understanding simple information from a stranger
e		Has significant difficulty understanding simple information from a stranger
14. Making self understood Making self understood reliably, repeatedly, safely and in a timely manner through speaking, writing, typing, or other means normally used, unaided by another person a. Has no difficulty making self understood Due to sensory, cognitive, physical or social difficulties: N/A Occ Freq Most b.  Has some difficulty conveying complex information to strangers c.  Has significant difficulty conveying complex information to strangers d.  Has some difficulty conveying simple information to strangers e.  Has significant difficulty conveying simple information to strangers
Supporting behaviours for work
15. Social Engagement Engaging socially
a	Has no difficulty engaging socially reliably, repeatedly and safely, unaided by another person.
Because of difficulties interacting with others, anxiety, distress or other emotions:			N/A	Occ	Freq	Most
b		Has some difficulty with social engagement with people unknown to the person
c		Has significant difficulty with social engagement with people unknown to the person
d		Has some difficulty with social engagement with people known to the person
e		Has significant difficulty with social engagement with people known to the person

16. Organising self and planning (was Managing self and schedule)
a	Has no difficulty managing him/herself and his/her schedule reliably, repeatedly and safely, unaided by another person.
		N/A	Occ	Freq	Most
b	Has some difficulty managing self and schedule to an acceptable standard for much of the day
c	Has significant difficulty managing self and schedule to an acceptable standard for much of the day
d	Has some difficulty managing self and schedule to an acceptable standard for short periods
e	Has significant difficulty managing self and schedule to an acceptable standard for short periods
17. Coping with Change
a	Has no difficulty coping with minor planned changes to daily routine unaided by another person.
		N/A	Occ	Freq	Most
b	Experiences some difficulties with unplanned changes to daily routine.
c	Experiences significant difficulties with unplanned changes to daily routine.
d	Experiences some difficulties with planned changes to daily routine.
e	Experiences significant difficulties with planned changes to daily routine.
18. Appropriateness of Behaviour
a	Display behaviour which work colleagues consider appropriate reliably, repeatedly and safely without support from another person
		N/A	Occ	Freq	Most
b	May display moderate verbally aggressive or socially inappropriate behaviour
c	May display severe verbally aggressive or socially inappropriate behaviour
d	May display physically aggressive behaviour