Transport policy

Adult Social Services Department Transport Policy – effective from 6 March 2017
Reviewed June 2021

See the committee report for full details

1 Policy

1.1 There is an expectation that service users will meet their own needs for transport to access and take advantage of services, or support to facilitate them.

1.2 Transport is not in itself an eligible social care need but is a means of accessing other services or support. The overriding principle is that the decision to provide transport is based on a person’s individual circumstances including needs, risks, outcomes, and promoting independence.

1.3 Adult Social Services will only fund transport for people to enable them to attend an activity or community-based service which is meeting an assessed social care need. Although a person may attend a specific community service or activity to meet their assessed needs, they will not be automatically eligible for transport to and from the service / activity.

1.4 The need for and purpose of transport should be clearly stated on an individual’s care and support plan. The transport provided must be appropriate for that need, provide value for money and be cost effective.

1.5 Transport may be provided on a temporary basis and reviewed when the person is able to use an alternative method of transport, for example, public transport.

1.6 The assumption is that service users will travel independently except where assessment shows that this is not possible. The test used in the assessment should be: “If Adult Social Services does not provide transport, would this result in an eligible need for services going unmet?”

1.7 Where an individual is provided with a Direct Payment to meet their assessed care needs, the same principles apply as with those receiving directly commissioned services from Adult Social Services.

1.8 If a person has been assessed as able to make their own transport arrangements but declines to do so without good cause and as a result is unable to attend the service for which they have an assessed eligible need this will be viewed as the person declining services. Where a person has declined a service which they are eligible for, the assessor will evaluate whether the person has the capacity to make this decision.

1.9 Some people’s transport arrangements may change following a reassessment of their social care needs. Where a change to a person’s care and support plan is necessary, the impact upon the person’s wellbeing must be assessed as well as any impact upon their carer, in line with the Care Act.

1.10 Practitioners, or in some cases the Preparing for Adult Life (PfAL) team, should work closely with Children’s Services to ensure the transport needs of children and young people are assessed whilst at school, so that options to promote independence and use mainstream transport have been explored before they go to college or an adult community activity. The PfAL team works with children and young people from the age of 14 and adopts the Living Well approach to help overcome the potential expectation that Adult Social Services will provide transport in all circumstances.

1.11 Adult Social Services would not normally provide Council funded transport for a person:

Who is able to access services by walking, using a mobility scooter or by using their own, public or community transport.
Who is able to arrange their transport themselves. For example, if the person uses public or community transport independently at any other time, it should be assumed that they will use public or community transport to access services where this is available. Independent travel must be promoted; this may include travel training which can be offered through TITAN travel training.
Who chooses to attend a service which is not their nearest appropriate service.
Who is in receipt of a Motability vehicle or mobility payment.
Who lives in a setting funded by the Adult Social Services, e.g. Residential Care, supported living schemes - The placement is expected to meet the full range of support needs, including transport.
Where a person contributes towards a Shared Community Vehicle.
Who funds their own social care - Where a self-funder is unable to arrange their own transport and there is no-one who can help them, then we can support them to access appropriate transport to their day services but the person will have to pay the transport provider direct.
On a short stay break and needs to return to their day service provision in their local area (unless the cost of their day service provision together with the cost of transport to and from that provision is less than would be charged for them remaining in respite for the day).
To attend health service appointments, including GPs, chiropodists, dentists, hospitals. Please note, a person may still require care and support to attend and engaging with healthcare appointments and this should be clear in the Care Act assessment;
To attend social clubs and other activities that are not part of their Care and Support Plan.