5.  Guidance on Eligibility of Transport Needs

The Assessment and FACS check list will indicate whether someone has social care needs that are eligible for care services to be provided by Devon Social Services. i.e. that there are risks to safety or independence that are Critical or Substantial - see FACS Eligibility Check List (SS14.) and FACS policy for details.

If no-one else or no other agency can meet needs that are therefore Critical or Substantial, consideration should be given as to what services should be provided. This could include the provision of transport to enable someone to access a service, or source of support which would prevent or reduce Critical or Substantial levels of risk.  

Transport to access a service or support should its self only be provided where there would be Critical or Substantial levels of risk if transport were not provided.  It would therefore need to be established that there is no alternative way in which the service user is realistically able to do the travelling necessary to access the services or support that they require.

The following steps should be taken to enable people who use services to travel:

• Service users who need it should be provided with road and bus training to enable them to safely walk or use public transportor  community transport schemes etc.
• People with cars provided under the Motability scheme should use those cars to access activities.
• People in receipt of mobility allowance should make their own arrangements.
• Parents or other family members should be approached to provide transport where possible.
• Car share arrangements should be considered (e.g. DCC staff car share scheme. Or parent/carer car share scheme) subject to safeguards on vehicles/drivers suitability/vetting.
• Direct Payments should be considered.
• Any transport funding by DCC will need to meet the modernisation agenda, not traditional ways of delivering a service.
• Where transport is not provided, information on alternatives should be made available.