"GUIDELINES on how to deal with suicidal benefits claimants have been handed out by the Department for Work and Pensions to Scots workers tasked with rolling out the UK Government’s controversial welfare reforms."
"As part of a six-point plan for dealing with suicidal claimants who have been denied welfare payments, call-centre staff in Glasgow have been told to wave the guidance, printed on a laminated pink card, above their head."
"The guidance is meant to help staff dealing with unsuccessful applicants for Universal Credit who are threatening to self-harm or take their own life."
"A manager is then meant to rush over to listen in to the call and workers – who insist they have had no formal training in the procedure – must "make some assessment on the degree of risk" by asking a series of questions."
"One section of the six-point plan, titled "gather information", demands that staff allow claimants to talk about their intention to commit suicide."
"The call-centre workers, who earn between £15,000 and £17,000 a year, must "find out specifically what is planned, when it is planned for, and whether the customer has the means-to-hand", according to the guidance seen by the Sunday Herald."
"Staff are also warned in the plan that they may have "thoughts and feelings" about the situation afterwards and offered reassurance that "this is all part of the process of coping with the experience and is normal".
"Glasgow-based call-centre workers have accused the DWP of asking them to carry out the job of a psychologist or social worker."
Read more : http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13620988._Suicide_guidance__given_to_benefits_staff_preparing_for_desperate_calls_on_welfare_reform/
Some of these claimants will have children.
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