A disability benefits assessor has been found guilty of misconduct and sacked after he “disgracefully” disparaged applicants, but is still free to work as a paramedic.

Alan Barham was given a caution order, after being sacked by assessments privateer Capita, in a three-day hearing at the Health Care and Professions Tribunal Service on Wednesday.

He had been recorded by an undercover Channel 4 team making remarks about assessing personal independence payment (PIP) claims on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Talking to a trainee benefits assessor — an undercover journalist — he said of one claimant: “Disability, known as being fat. She asks for help to wipe her arse because she’s too fucking fat to do it herself.”

The panel said he had described a vulnerable person in “disparaging and disgraceful terms” and lacked empathy.

He was also recorded saying that assessments could be carried out before claimants were seen, and it was possible to “completely dismiss” most of what claimants said or “catch them out.”

Appearing before the panel on Monday, he said Capita’s policy was “getting as many reports through the door as we possibly could — we were encouraged to do as much as possible before meeting a claimant.”

Mr Barham admitted to each of the allegations.

The tribunal decided that his fitness to practice was impaired, but the incidents only relate to one occasion.

This will be recorded on the National Medical Council register for five years but will not restrict his ability to work as a paramedic.

In an interview with the Disability News Service website he said he had been made a “scapegoat” for Capita, but at the hearing he repeatedly said he was the only person to blame.