Page 73 - Reforming Benefits Decision-Making

is the SSAC, it is an advisory committee. Its main role is scrutinising
proposed regulations. It also comments on wider issues through its
independent work programme, but the Government has no obligation to act on
this. Other major Government departments and public bodies are subject to
independent oversight: Ofsted monitors the Department for Education’s
services, the Care Quality Commission and NHS Improvement monitor the
Department for Health and Social Care, whilst the Home Office is subject to
scrutiny from the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration
and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons.

2.99 An independent reviewer or regulator would help ensure that the DWP was
meeting the performance measures discussed above. Someone external to, and
independent of, the system would be better equipped to identify systemic
issues and ensure that changes are made in order to rectify these. It would
have more ‘teeth’ than internal monitoring and be much more transparent.
Having an independent body would also help restore trust and confidence in
the benefits system.

2.100 We therefore recommend that a permanent independent reviewer or
regulator for welfare benefits should be established. This should be a
statutory role with responsibility for assessing and reporting on
standards of decision-making in relation to benefits. Their functions
should also include monitoring the use of automated decision-making.

Training - reasonable adjustments

2.101 It is crucial that DWP staff are given appropriate training so that they
understand their legal obligations, policy and guidance and administrative
processes. We understand that assessors, work coaches and decision-makers
all receive training and are provided with guidance relevant to their roles.
However, given the gap that exists between policy and practice, we think that
this training should be looked at again in light of some of the recurring issues
identified. Identifying specific training needs is something that an independent
reviewer or regulator would be able to do. However, we consider that there

Northern Ireland, as required by the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015, however again
these are limited in scope and no further reviews are required by the Order (see n. 15 above).

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