LONDON: Serco, a global provider of public services, has been awarded a five-year contract by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to deliver functional health assessments for disability benefits and support in the south-west of England. The contract, which starts in September 2024, is expected to be worth around £350m, depending on workload volumes.

The new Functional Assessment Services (FAS) will replace the current system of multiple providers for different types of assessments, such as Personal Independent Payment (PIP) and Health and Disability Assessment Services (HDAS). Serco will be the sole provider of all assessments in the region, aiming to improve consistency and quality of service for claimants.

Serco will leverage its experience in delivering health programmes in the UK and abroad, as well as partnering with existing suppliers in the area. Serco Group Chief Executive Mark Irwin said: “We will focus on ensuring all claimants are treated with care and respect and our employees are fully supported and trained to provide high quality and consistent health assessments. We will also draw on our extensive experience supporting and delivering important health programmes around the world and build on our value-based relationship with the DWP to ensure we become a true Impact Partner to the department”.