Functional Specialist - PIP - Wales

Job Description

Our functional specialists write reports which help the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) make important decisions about a person’s health and care.

Maybe you’re a nurse (RMN, RNLD, RGN), occupational therapist, physiotherapist or paramedic looking for a change. If you want to move away from direct care, this role offers you the chance to not only improve your assessment skills, but also use your knowledge and experience to make important clinical recommendations.

We’re looking for people with compassion and experience to understand claimants’ health conditions and how they impact their lives.

This role is different from other healthcare professions, and that’s why we take your training and development seriously. You’ll receive comprehensive training with time set aside for self‑development learning.

If you’re looking for a change, including more regular working hours, a competitive salary and are ready to expand your skills and experience, this could be the role for you.

• Conducting initial reviews, paper‑based, face‑to‑face, video or telephone assessments to evaluate how a claimant’s health condition or disability affects their day‑to‑day life
• Observing and reporting on an individual’s ability to carry out activities
• Analysing and interpreting clinical information and supporting evidence
• Creating one comprehensive 3,000–4,000‑word report of the evidence gathered for each claimant, up to a maximum of 3 per day
• Ensuring enough detail, evidence and justification are given to support the DWP in making decisions
• Developing your clinical knowledge and learning about the health conditions which are less familiar to you
• This is a hybrid role with expectation that you will be based at home and assigned to work from your nearest assessment centre on a rota basis to deliver face‑to‑face assessments

• One year’s post‑registration experience as a nurse (RMN, RNLD, RGN), occupational therapist, physiotherapist or paramedic
• Fully registered with a relevant UK regulatory body (NMC, HCPC or other), without restriction or conditions and with a valid PIN
• Excellent observational and communication skills, giving you the ability to listen, empathise and dig deeper
• The ability to work quickly, producing reports in a timely manner and hitting targets
• Solid experience with using IT and Microsoft Office, as well as remotely accessing systems
• A current valid driving licence or access to a form of transport to attend your nearest assessment centre

Successful candidates will be required to successfully complete government baseline personnel security standard vetting. This is the recognised standard for the pre‑employment screening of individuals with access to government asset.

This role is defined as regulated activity relating to children or vulnerable adults within the meaning of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. At vetting, you will undergo an enhanced criminality check which will show both spent and unspent convictions.

Your working hours:
You’ll be contracted to work 7.5 hours per day, 37.5 hours per week (full time). Working patterns will be between the hours of 8 am and 8 pm.

• A competitive basic starting salary of £39,500 increasing to £40,500 on achieving DWP approval
• Once approved you will be eligible for our bonus scheme subject to quality and performance
• 25 days’ holiday (rising to 27 after 5 years) with the opportunity to buy extra leave
• Annual professional registration fee reimbursed and supported revalidation
• The opportunity to take a paid day out of the office, volunteering for our charity partners or a cause of your choice
• Company matched pension, life assurance, a cycle2work scheme, 15 weeks’ fully paid maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, paternity pay of two weeks… and plenty more
• Opportunity to purchase discounted benefits designed to suit your lifestyle – from discounts on retail and socialising, to health & wellbeing, travel and technology
• Refer a friend reward scheme
• Access to the Headspace app for you and up to 5 family or friends
• Access to our Employee Network Groups, which represent every strand of diversity and allow colleagues to connect and learn from each other on an open, inclusive platform

As a Disability Confident Leader, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview. For further information or to discuss any reasonable adjustments you may need, please contact us on or .

We’re an equal opportunity employer, and we recruit and develop our people based on merit and their passion for creating better outcomes. We’re committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.