Functional Assessment Clinical Assurance and Training Services (FACATS)

BACKGROUND DWP commissions the provision of circa 2 million assessments per year, which are conducted on behalf of DWP by Healthcare Professionals (HPs) employed by the suppliers that were awarded Functional Assessment Service (FAS) contracts. The 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. DWP’s Core Training and Guidance Materials (CTGM) is used by the FAS suppliers to ensure HPs 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 benefit related assessments and the related policy) to enable the HPs to effectively conduct the assessments. The CTGM currently comprises a total of approximately 900 documents with a total of circa 30,000 pages. DWP is required to review and update the CTGM on an annual basis and when changes are required to any CTGM document due to policy changes, guidance updates, legislative changes, etc. In addition, approximately 200 Authority Clinicians who work for DWP will also use the CTGM for reference and as a resource for Continuing Professional Development (CPD). SCOPE OF THE REQUIREMENT / CONTRACT SUBJECT-MATTER DWP is intending to run a procurement exercise to procure the following services: • Clinical QA Service • Annual Training Course Service • Educational CPD Materials Service Clinical QA Service: The scope of the Clinical QA Service is for the Supplier to undertake a clinical assurance review and update of all CTGM documents at least annually. The contents of the CTGM documents vary widely but generally consist of functional assessor training, clinical policy specific documents, clinical condition specific training, multiple choice questions, case scenarios, etc. The purpose of the clinical quality assurance review to be performed by the Supplier is to ensure each CTGM document is clinically accurate, uses appropriate clinical language and aligns with current NHS best practice and national guidance (e.g. NICE guidance) and international guidance (e.g. WHO). The Supplier will be required to perform the clinical quality assurance review of the CTGM documents using clinicians that: (i) are either primary care doctors with a valid MRCGP qualification or a specialist doctor holding CCT or CESR qualification; (ii) registered with a licence to practise on the GMC’s ‘GP Register’ or ‘Specialist Register’ with no sanctions attached to their registration (with the exception of a sanction that relates to the clinician’s personal disability) and, (iii) have at least 2 years demonstrable experience of developing and/or reviewing clinical education and/or training materials which reflect UK national guidance (e.g. NHS best practice, NICE guidance, etc.) and international guidance (e.g. WHO) and have an up-to-date knowledge of a wide range of clinical conditions, functional effects of disease, disability awareness and mental health awareness. Annual Training Course Service: The scope of the Annual Training Course Service will cover the development and delivery of a bespoke CPD clinical training course once per year. The Supplier is required to develop this training course with content that can be delivered in a face-to-face setting with 6 hours of content. The course will cover clinical topics related to the clinical and functional assessments detailed within the CTGM documents that have been updated during the previous 12 months and other relevant material agreed by DWP e.g. safeguarding or topics of interest. The training course material must be in line with CPD for Regulated Clinicians as per best practice in the NHS. Educational CPD Materials Service: The scope of the Educational CPD Materials Service is for the Supplier to develop educational CPD materials that will provide 6 hours of clinical education material in the form of videos, podcasts, /or other interactive materials for Authority Clinicians to access independently. The CPD material is required to: (i) cover clinical topics relevant to Assessments (and from Contract Year 2 include the clinical topics detailed within the CTGM documents that have been updated during the previous 12 months); (ii) cover the main clinical changes that have occurred in National guidance over the previous 12 months, e.g. updates to NICE guidelines; (iii) meet DWP quality standards, be evidence based, in line with best practice (e.g. NICE guidelines) and free from bias; and, (iv) be in line with CPD for Regulated Clinicians as per best practice in the NHS. CONTRACT DETAILS: The contract details are to be determined. The estimated contract start date is 1 August 2025. The contract duration is to be determined but will be for a minimum of 2 years and there may be options for DWP to further extend the initial term of the contract.