UK Health & Disability Assessment Sector – Candidate Insight Guide
The Health & Disability Assessment sector plays a central role in supporting the welfare and occupational health systems across the UK. Most clinical recruitment within this field relates to delivering Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments and Work Capability Assessments for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). These are the highest‑volume, nationally delivered assessments and form the core of demand for Healthcare Professionals transitioning into functional assessor roles.
In some organisations, experienced assessors may also receive further training to take on additional assessment types – including more specialised Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) evaluations or certain pension‑related assessments – depending on business needs and regional requirements.
This page brings together publicly available information about key organisations operating in this space, helping candidates understand the landscape, the types of services each provider delivers, and the environments in which functional assessors may work. This content is offered for general research purposes and is not endorsed by, or affiliated with, any provider or government department.
Employers in the Sector
Most recruitment activity within the health and disability assessment sector relates to roles delivering Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments, or Work Capability Assessments (WCA) for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit (UC). These form the core of the assessment volume across the UK. In some organisations, experienced clinicians receive additional training to carry out more specialised evaluations, such as Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit assessments or certain pension‑related assessments. The information below provides a high‑level overview of the main providers delivering these services, to support candidates in understanding the landscape and the types of roles available.
ExamWorks UK
ExamWorks UK provides medical reporting and health assessment services across the UK through its group companies, including UKIM and Premex. Their work spans insurance, legal, and healthcare sectors and includes independent assessments, rehabilitation, and occupational health services.
Website: https://examworks.co.uk
Ingeus UK
Ingeus UK delivers health and disability assessments on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). From September 2024, the organisation began delivering the Health Assessment Advisory Service across London, the South East, and East Anglia. Their service model brings several assessment types into a single framework to support consistent delivery.
Website: https://ingeus.co.uk/services/assessments
Serco
Serco provides the Health Assessment Advisory Service in South-West and South Central England on behalf of the DWP. Their teams conduct a range of disability‑related benefit assessments in different formats, including face‑to‑face, telephone, and video, supported by qualified healthcare professionals.
Website: https://haas-serco.co.uk
Maximus
Maximus, delivers Work Capability Assessments and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Assessments for the DWP under the Health Assessment Advisory Service. Operating through a nationwide network of assessment centres, Maximus focuses on evaluating how health conditions may affect an individual’s ability to work, primarily for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and related benefits.
Website: https://haas.maximusuk.co.uk/
Capita
Capita is contracted to deliver disability assessments for several DWP‑administered benefits, including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), ESA, and components of Universal Credit. Their operations cover regions including the Midlands and Wales, with assessments completed by healthcare professionals in line with DWP guidance.
Website: https://haas.capita.co.uk
Salus
Salus provides occupational health and disability assessment services, and in some areas supports delivery of assessments on behalf of MAXIMUS for the Health Assessment Advisory Service. Their wider services include occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and return‑to‑work support across various public and private sector settings.
Website: https://www.salus.co.uk
IPRS Group
IPRS Group offers clinical services including physiotherapy, mental health support, and disability assessments. Through IPRS PFAS, the organisation provides independent medical assessments for government, insurance, and healthcare partners, delivered by a network of specialist practitioners.
Website:
https://www.iprsgroup.com
https://www.iprshealth.com
Advo
Advo provides health‑related assessment and clinical services across a range of settings. More detailed content can be added here to reflect publicly available service information.
Website: https://advohealth.co.uk/
Assessment Centres
Providers operate in regional ‘lots’ with some crossover, you can see links to the assessment centres below.
When working in the assessment centre you can expect the general setup to be a manned entrance, waiting room and reception staffed by an Assessment Centre coordinator or manager, then several individual assessment rooms which have a workspace, seating for a clinician and the claimant who is attending their appointment plus a carer, relative or designated person who might attend with the claimant for their pre-booked appointment.
Northern England and Scotland
Maximus list their assessment centres here: Find your centre
Midlands and Wales
Capita list their assessment centres here: Assessment centres
South West and South Central
Serco list their assessment centres here: Find a centre – Health Assessment Advisory Service
South East, London and East Anglia
Ingeus list their assessment centres here: Find an Assessment Centre – Health Assessment Advisory Service
Northern Ireland
Capita list their assessment centres here: UC Assessment Centres in Northern Ireland
Assessments delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
The DWP cover assessments in specific Greater London and Birmingham postcodes listed here: Find your health assessment provider – GOV.UK
Real-World Q&A
We have asked prior and current Functional Assessment clinicians for their help in answering questions relating to life as a Functional Assessor.
During training the coaching and improvement of report stage is difficult as you are learning to write in a specific, government terminology, you are also referencing beyond health needs including lifestyle, each case is done from a blank document so there is a lot of typing.
A lot of those entering this role underestimate the learning curve.
The training is difficult to get your head around if you haven’t been in a learning environment for some time.
Some reports will necessitate review, and revisiting which can feel like doubling up on prior efforts.
You’re part of a business and you’re dealing with peoples lives, the criteria means you work strictly to a criteria with no manoeuvrability or stretch.
Your responsibility is to complete the report accurately, professionally, and on time which can reduce the time you have for building rapport with each claimant.
All three, face-to-face is in the assessment centre and you complete phone and video consultations from the assessment centre and from home.
Typically you will be allocated to a clinical and non-clinical manager, your clinical lead will aid you through the preceptorship/post-classroom stages of training and then help you to reach quality standards, your non-clinical manager will be your welfare manager and work with you on the human management side of things, performance reviews and helping you to work with your employer.
There is a minimum number of years’ post-registration and experience which is set by the DWP in the assessment guide, each employer has their own criteria but typically the role can be done for those with over one year’s worth of clinical experience, the most relevant experience is from those who have assessed and treated varied complex conditions.
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Disclaimer
This page provides publicly available information and accounts from prior candidates for candidate research only. iGo Recruitment is an independent recruitment business and is not endorsed by, affiliated with, or acting on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or any assessment provider. For the latest updates, please refer to official employer websites.