Functional Assessment Clinical Assurance and Training Services (FACATS)

OVERVIEW DWP commissions the provision of circa 2 million Assessments per year, which are conducted on behalf of DWP by Healthcare Professionals (HPs) employed by suppliers that were awarded Functional Assessment Service (FAS) Contracts (FAS Providers). These Assessments are used to help determine eligibility to certain disability related benefits including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Universal Credit (UC), Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and other Specialist Benefits.

The FAS Providers employ approximately 5,000 HPs to conduct Assessments on behalf of the DWP. To conduct Assessments, HPs are required to have appropriate knowledge of the clinical aspects and the functional effects of a wide range of health conditions and disabilities as well as specific knowledge of how to conduct the Assessments and the related policy.

DWP owns a suite of benefit-related clinical Core Training and Guidance Materials (CTGM). The CTGM currently comprises a total of approximately 700 documents with a total of circa 30,000 pages.

The CTGM is broken down into two categories, namely: a) CTGM relating to carrying out Assessments which accounts for the vast majority of documents. In addition to providing the guidance to HPs and Authority Clinicians when conducting Assessments, FAS Providers are also required to use the CTGM to inform and develop training programmes and associated materials for their circa 5,000 HPs. b) There are several CTGM documents for use by Authority Decision Makers.

This category of CTGM includes guidance for Authority Decision Makers who determine eligibility for Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance for Children. In addition, DWP engages approximately 200 Authority Clinicians who will also use the CTGM for reference.

DWP is committed to ensuring clinical CTGM is annually reviewed and of the highest quality, evidence based, in-line with best practice and free from bias. CONTRACT SUBJECT-MATTER The following Services form the overall scope of Services required by the Authority under this procurement: a) Clinical QA Service - carrying out a review of the CTGM; b) Annual Clinical Training Course Service - delivering an annual clinical training course; c) Educational CPD Materials Service - developing educational CPD materials.

The above Services are required to be delivered in accordance with: a) the relevant sections of the Specification; b) the relevant Service Levels; and c) the terms and conditions of the Contract. The Authority conducted the procurement for the award of this public contract as an open procedure in accordance with sections 20(1) and 20(2)(a) of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA2023) for the award of a light touch contract in accordance with section 9 of PA 2023.