Join us as a

Functional Assessor

Transcript

Make a difference. Maintain your clinical skills. Find your balance. 

At Serco, we deliver the Health Assessment Advisory Service (HAAS) on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) - a vital national service that supports people whose health or disability affects their daily life. 

As a Functional Assessor, you’ll use your clinical knowledge in a new, non-clinical environment to help ensure people are assessed fairly, accurately and with dignity.

Watch the video to learn more about the role.

We’re proud to be a people-focused organisation built on our values of Trust, Care, Innovation and Pride. 

As a Functional Assessor, you can expect: 
  • Flexible working options – full-time or part-time, centre-based or hybrid 
  • Regular working hours – Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm, no nights, weekends or unsociable shifts 
  • A highly supportive clinical environment with structured training, coaching and peer support 
  • Competitive salary packages, bonus opportunities and long-term career security 

When you join Serco, you join a global team of 50,000 people committed to improving lives and serving communities. 

  • You’ll meet customers with disabilities or health conditions in a non-clinical environment, either on the phone, face-to-face or online, to carry out functional health assessments to ascertain how their disability or condition affects their day-to-day life. 
  • You’ll use your clinical expertise to produce a factual assessment report which will help the DWP determine whether that person is eligible for benefits.  
  • You’ll show empathy and compassion at all times and use your active listening and note-taking skills to help you produce right-first-time reports on a consistent basis. 
  • You’ll provide assessments for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) customers, Work Capability Assessments (WCAs) for individuals claiming Universal Credit (UC) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), or other assessments for specialist benefits (depending on your role and background). 

In this role, you will produce functional assessment reports which may be complex in nature due to dealing with customers with multiple conditions such as mental and physical. You may need to liaise with GPs, or other medical professionals who are involved in providing care for the individuals you are assessing, to ensure reports are fair, accurate, and produced to a high professional standard. 

  • Make medical diagnoses 
  • Provide medical treatment or advice 
  • Make benefit decisions - your reports will inform independent decision makers  

  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit for people with a long-term health condition or impairment, whether physical, sensory, mental, cognitive, intellectual, or any combination of these. It is paid to make a contribution to the extra costs that disabled people may face, to help them lead full, active and independent lives. 
  • A Work Capability Assessment (WCA) is a functional assessment that looks at a range of different activities relating to physical, mental, intellectual and cognitive functions, to help DWP determine a customer's capability for work or work-related activity. 

  • You’ll continually expand your professional knowledge and experience through working with a vast range of customers with unique circumstances 
  • Fully funded and supported CPD (Continuing Professional Development) 
  • We provide compensation for your professional subscription fees and support your revalidation.  
  • We cover the annual fees to maintain your registration.  
  • 1:1 clinical coaching with a dedicated coach and communities of practice 
  • We’re committed to professional and personal development, with a wide range of training and coaching opportunities to help you grow throughout your career with us 
  • We champion development and internal promotion to help people build a rewarding career with us 
  • Further down this page, you can learn more about the training programme you'll complete when you join us

Who can apply 

We welcome applications from registered healthcare professionals including: 
  • Registered Nurses (NMC) 
  • Registered Mental Health Nurses (NMC) 
  • Registered Learning Disability Nurses (NMC) 
  • Physiotherapists (HCPC) 
  • Occupational Therapists (HCPC) 
  • Paramedics (HCPC) 
  • Pharmacists (GPhC) 
  • Doctors (GMC)

Essential requirements

  • Minimum 12 months’ post-registration clinical experience 
  • Current professional registration with no restrictions 
  • Evidence of CPD and revalidation 
  • Strong communication and report-writing skills 
  • Confident IT skills (Microsoft Office, typing) 

A day in the life of a Functional Assessor 

Your day could include: 
  • Reviewing customer evidence and preparing for assessments 
  • Conducting consultations and gathering functional information 
  • Analysing clinical information and producing high-quality reports 
  • Liaising with healthcare professionals when required 

You’ll be supported at every stage by experienced colleagues, clinical coaches and communities of practice. 

Your training programme

Discover how we'll support you through a tailored training programme to teach you everything you need to transition successfully into a role as a Functional Assessor.

  • Delivered via Microsoft Teams
  • Supported by e-learning modules and webinars
  • Focus on building knowledge and integrating new learning with existing clinical and communication skills

  • Assessment of how well theoretical knowledge is applied to the role
  • Ensures readiness to move into practical, case-based work

  • One-week intensive training
  • First experience working on live cases
  • Additional training modules provided, if needed

  • Working independently with 100% audit of work
  • Ongoing support from CSO (Customer Service Officer)
  • Continued support from the Clinical Hub

  • Transition into regional teams
  • Supported by Service Delivery Manager and a Clinical Standards Lead (CSL)
  • Requirement to achieve three A1 reports

  • Continuous support available throughout the programme
  • Additional help provided whenever needed to ensure progress and confidence
Transcript
Learn more about the training programme

The benefits

  • Competitive salary with year-one increments 
  • Performance-based bonus (up to 10%) 
  • A 5% ‘congratulations’ bonus upon obtaining your approval from the DWP (payable at the end of the first available quarter) 
  •  Up to 6% employer-matched pension 
  • Professional subscription fees covered 
  • Retail, leisure and hospitality discounts 

  • Structured clinical coaching and mentoring 
  • Colleague Forum and emotional wellbeing support 
  • Employee Assistance Programme and Health Plans 
  • Flexible working and life-friendly patterns
  • Hybrid working opportunities

  • You’ll continually expand your professional knowledge and experience through working with a vast range of customers with unique circumstances 
  • Fully funded and supported CPD (Continuing Professional Development) 
  • We provide compensation for your professional subscription fees and support your revalidation.  
  • We cover the annual fees to maintain your registration.  
  • 1:1 clinical coaching with a dedicated coach and communities of practice 
  • We’re committed to professional and personal development, with a wide range of training and coaching opportunities to help you grow throughout your career with us 
  • We champion development and internal promotion to help people build a rewarding career with us 
  • We offer clear progression pathways including: 
    • Clinical Coach 
    • Clinical Trainer 
    • Clinical Author 
    • Clinical Standards Auditor 
    • Regional Quality and Performance Manager 

At Serco, we believe there’s a place here for everyone. 

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and Gold Inclusive Employer. 

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and employment.

Your recruitment journey

Step 1

Apply online

Step 2

Telephone screening

Step 3

Online clinical assessment 

Step 4

Interview (virtual or face-to-face) 

Step 5

Offer and 
vetting 

Step 6

Onboarding 
and training 

Find your place at Serco 

A place where your clinical skills continue to matter. 
A place where your work has purpose. 
A place where your life outside work is respected. 
Apply now

Frequently Asked Questions

Serco delivers two main types of assessment (and some specialist assessments) on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP): 

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) 
PIP supports people with long-term health conditions or disabilities and helps contribute to the additional costs they may face in daily life. 

Work Capability Assessment (WCA) 
WCA assesses how a person’s health condition or disability affects their ability to work or carry out work-related activity. 

Depending on your background and training, you may carry out one or both types of assessment. 

You must be currently registered with one of the following regulatory bodies, with no restrictions and with evidence of CPD and revalidation: 
  • GMC – Doctors 
  • NMC – Nurses 
  • HCPC – Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Paramedics 
  • GPhC – Pharmacists 

You will also need a minimum of 12 months’ post-registration clinical experience.

Full-time Functional Assessors work Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm. 
There are no nights, weekends or unsociable shifts, and part-time options are available. 

Yes. You are paid from day one of training — your first day of training is your first day of employment with Serco. 

Training length varies depending on whether you are approved for PIP or WCA, but you will follow a structured and supported learning pathway with regular feedback and clinical supervision. 

You will begin conducting assessments independently once you have completed your training and passed the approval audit stage. 

Yes. There is a performance-based bonus scheme with eligibility of up to 10% of your salary. 

You will assess a wide range of conditions, including: 
  • Physical 
  • Sensory 
  • Cognitive 
  • Intellectual 
  • Mental health 

Many customers will have multiple or complex conditions. 

You’ll receive: 
  • Full clinical training and induction 
  • Dedicated 1:1 clinical coaching 
  • Ongoing CPD and development opportunities 
  • Access to communities of practice 
  • Support from a highly experienced multidisciplinary team 

Yes. As a Disability Confident Leader and Gold Inclusive Employer, Serco is committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and in the workplace. 

Please let the Talent Acquisition team know about any adjustments you require at the application stage or during your interview. 

At Serco, we actively promote internal development. Progression routes include: 
  • Clinical Coach 
  • Clinical Trainer 
  • Clinical Author 
  • Clinical Standards Auditor 
  • Leadership and specialist clinical roles 

You’ll also be part of a global healthcare network with opportunities across the wider Serco organisation.