Hi Nikki
Pls add my name and many thanks for doing this.
Dr Penny Priest
Clinical Psychologist
--------------------------------------------
On Wed, 19/4/17, Nicola Swan <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

 Subject: Open letter re PIP - second chance! (please respond by tomorrow evening)
 To: [log in to unmask]
 Date: Wednesday, 19 April, 2017, 21:02
 
 Dear
 all,
 Thank you to those who have already signed. The
 scheduled debate was cancelled due to the general election
 announcement. The Guardian letters section have responded
 asking me to 'tweak' the last paragraph to reflect
 this - so always looking for a silver lining I am taking
 this opportunity to try and secure more signatories before
 resubmitting. 
 The Guardian have also asked me to list the
 'most important' signatories first... I'm not
 quite sure how to go about this, but if you are feeling
 particularly important today let me know...
 Also, please do share this with people off this
 list who may wish to add their support. 
 To add your name please email:
 [log in to unmask]
 Many thanks,
 Nikki
 The 'tweaked' letter:
 As
 professionals working with clients considered to be
 experiencing severe and complex mental health difficulties,
 we have been
 informed of some concerning and frankly shocking experiences
 of the PIP
 assessment process, and seen decision reports which
 highlight an alarming lack
 of understanding of common mental health difficulties such
 as anxiety and
 depression, and even less understanding of difficulties
 related to PTSD, complex
 trauma and childhood adversity leading to diagnoses such as
 personality
 disorder.  
 We
 have observed the PIP process to exacerbate difficulties,
 increase feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, shame and
 thoughts of suicide.
 Leading to psychological therapy effectively being put on
 hold and the person
 supported through the crisis period until the process is
 over. 
 However,
 restrictions on the number of sessions NHS services
 can offer often means a frustrating sense of sessions being
 lost to the PIP
 process. For example, it is an all too common experience
 that trauma-focused
 therapy has to be put on hold until the PIP process is
 complete and a sense of
 safety re-established. For others the PIP experience
 exacerbates feelings of
 worthlessness and undermines the validation of their needs,
 and the seriousness
 of the impact of past abuse and neglect.
 In a
 number of cases we have been able to assist by
 supporting clients to appeal their PIP decision and have had
 some success with
 this. However, this does not reconcile the fact that not
 only is the appeal
 process a stressful and often re-traumatising experience for
 clients, but a
 symptom of a process that is not fit for purpose.
 As
 shadow work and pensions secretary, Debbie Abrahams has
 stated "Instead of listening to the court's
 criticisms of personal
 independence payment assessments and correcting these
 injustices, the
 Government has instead decided to undermine the legal basis
 of the rulings”,
 this minimises the seriousness of the day to day challenges
 people who are
 experiencing mental health difficulties face. 
 The
 debate re PIP rule changes scheduled for the 19th of
 April was cancelled due to the general election
 announcement. In the wake of
 this we urge the Government, and all parties, to seek
 appropriate consultation
 with service-user groups and mental health professionals
 regarding wider reform
 of the benefits system. The current system is not fit for
 purpose. People living
 with mental health difficulties are being let down – this
 cannot continue. 
 Signed
 (in alphabetical order):
 Scott
 Bartle. Trainee Clinical Psychologist, UEL
 
 Will Berisch-Secretan, Dramatherapist, South
 DevonCaz
 Brown,
 Systemic Psychotherapist, South Devon
 
 Sammy Browne, Assistant Psychologist, Dame Hannah Rogers
 TrustKelly
 Camilleri, Clinical Psychologist
 
 Jen Daffin, Trainee Clinical Psychologist, Cardiff
 University
 
 Dr Stacy Earl, Clinical Psychologist, EssexMisbah
 Gladwyn-Khan, Trainee Clinical Psychologist, South
 WalesDani
 Harker,
 Trainee Clinical Psychologist, Leicestershire Partnership
 NHS Trust, Homeless
 Mental Health ServiceDr
 Lealah
 Hewitt, Clinical Psychologist
 
 Sophie Lee, Assistant Psychologist, Devon 
 
 Annie Mitchell, Clinical Psychologist and Associate
 Professor
 
 Emily Shah, Trainee Clinical Psychologist, University of
 East London
 
 Tim Siggs, Clinical Psychologist, Derbyshire.
 
 Dr Nikki Swan, Clinical Psychologist, South DevonDr
 Lisa
 Thorne, Clinical & Community Psychologist
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Dr
 Jay
 Watts, Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist, Alliance
 for Counselling and
 Psychotherapy, London
 
 Dr Stephen Weatherhead, Clinical Psychologist
 
 Joshua Williams, Assistant Psychologist
 
 Sarah Wolfe, Clinical Psychologist in Training, University
 of Liverpool
 
 Alex Young, Clinical Psychologist, NHS,
 Sheffield  
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