The government is to make changes to the assessment of long-term incapacity claimants to place more of a focus on the understanding of “complex mental health issues”, it has been announced.

The Department for Work and Pensions has accepted the recommendations of an independent review into the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) by Professor Malcolm Harrington, in order to “iron out any problems and improve the system”.

In June, Harrington was tasked with examining the WCA, which is currently used to assess whether new incapacity benefit claimants are fit for any type of work. The process will also be rolled out to re-assess all 2.2 million existing sickness claimants from next year.

The Harrington report recommended the creation of a network of “mental health, intellectual and cognitive champions” in the Atos medical centres that carry out the assessments, “to spread best practice and build understanding of these conditions”.

It also suggested making the role of Jobcentre Plus central to the WCA, and improving transparency of the process and communication with those being assessed.

Responding to the review, employment minister Chris Grayling said: “It’s unacceptable that so many people have been written off to a lifetime on benefits. We know that many of these people could and do want to work, but the current system doesn’t allow them to.

“The WCA should be seen as a positive first step towards returning to work. Those who are found fit for work will get the help and support they need to get a job. Those found too sick or disabled to work won’t be expected to, and will continue to receive the help and support they need to lead fulfilling lives.”

The TUC welcomed the implementation of the report’ s proposals as a “positive move”.

“We support giving more power to Jobcentre Plus staff to help them make the right decision on WCAs, and it is good to see the extra provision for the particular difficulties in assessing mental health conditions,” said TUC general secretary Brendan Barber.

“However, the government still needs to do more to challenge disabled people’s employment chances more widely. Employer discrimination remains widespread and much needs to be done to tackle ongoing labour market inequalities.”

Legal experts also warned of potential problems with the government’s plan to record assessment interviews, as part of its pledge to increase transparency.

“The government says it will ensure that Atos pilots the audio recording of assessments ‘to understand the benefits and practical challenges this could bring’,” said Philip Henson, employment partner at Bargate Murray. “As such there is a clear need for safeguards and guidelines to clarify whether the government could use such recordings for other wider purposes connected to umbrella welfare reforms.”

Earlier this month, secretary for work and pensions, Iain Duncan Smith, outlined the government’s Universal Credit: welfare that works white paper, which plans to merge out-of-work benefits and in-work support to create a universal credit, with the intention to “make work pay”.