Tomorrow I have to accompany someone to their ESA /ATOS assessment as they suffer from severe anxiety with depression and wouldn't be in a place to attend if they didn't have support. I believe they have asked for the interview to be recorded and ATOS (or whoever the new cunts are) informed them that they would contact them if this wasn't possible - They haven't contacted them to date.
What should we expect? what can I do and say during the interview?
I was going to take notes and record the session regardless for my own note taking benefit.
I accompanied my girlf. Expect them to be observing you from before you come in the door, we were met by the 'healthcare professional' where we had to sign in and then we had to sit in a waiting room (which really amplifies the anxiety) even though we were right on time.
I was allowed to contribute, I'd fill in the gaps after the girf had said something like she would would say 'Yes I can do x' I'd add things like 'but you are often to ill to do x - you can't do it everyday' or 'I often need to do x for you'. I took all the paperwork and chipped in with things like 'we have a hospital letter about that' and insisted she accept all the copies of hospital appts and doctors letters.
When ever something is discussed be sure to stress if this can't be done reliably and repeatedly. Stress 'on a good' and what a bad day is like. So often in talking about mental health we talk ourselves up, we like to be optimistic and positive - here you have to stress all the downs, all the negatives, no point in being optististic at all - tell them all the shit bits.
Be sure to point out the friend wouldn't have been able to attend without you. I pointed out that I had planned the least stressful bus journey to get her there - with the fewest changes, made sure she was up and dressed, led her out of the house, held her by the hand and that sort of thing. Spell out what you have done.
I tried to write notes but I found this difficult to do as well as listening/speaking. I found it quite upsetting seeing her so upset too, I offered to leave the room when she was asked about suicide - very distressing for her to answer and it was horrible to listen to.
She was asked innocent sounding questions eg one about smoking - but we had been warned that to answer she could 'roll her own' might translate in the Atos mind to something like 'is manually dexterous' Grlf was nervous as hell and shaking like a leaf so obviously incapable of rolling her own that day. I'd advised her to have some rolled ready as she was bound to need a smoke that day. There is no harm at all in the assessor seeing just how nervous and anxious your friend is.
Wishing you and your friend all the best.
