Knowsley Council Travel and Travel Support policy

Who is this section for?

If you have been assessed as having a social care need and eligible for support from Adult Social Care services then this section will give you the information you need regarding travel support.

Legal Framework

The Care Act 2014 places a duty on the council to meet the needs of adults and carers assessed as having eligible needs. However promoting wellbeing and meeting needs is not always about direct service provision, as other means of support may be more appropriate to meeting an individual’s eligible needs.

The Care Act 2014 does not place a duty on the local authority to provide transport. However if a person is assessed as requiring support to make use of necessary facilities or services in the local community (for example), and they are deemed to have eligible care and support needs, then the local authority does need to consider how a person might access facilities and services in the community. This means considering a range of transport options that might be available to them.

Assessment and Eligibility – Determination of Need, Care and Support

If a person contacts the council with a presenting need, a Care Act Assessment will be carried out to establish whether they have eligible needs for care and support. When assessing eligibility for transport and feasibility of different ways to access services, the following factors will be considered:

• Eligibility for care and support

A Care Act Assessment will be carried out to establish whether a person has eligible needs for care and support. The Care and Support Planning process should outline the need for and purpose of transport, and consideration should be given as to whether an individual’s  eligible needs include the need to access and engage in the community and to travel independently or with assistance from family, friends or support providers. In this regard a principal of reasonableness will be adopted (the assessment will aim to establish if it is safe and reasonable to expect the person to make their own travel arrangements). As part of the assessment all transport options will be examined and the outcomes will be identified and evidenced.

Consideration will be given to transport in the initial assessment of a person’s needs and any subsequent review and reassessment of care needs. Reassessments will take place at least annually. However an individual can request a review of their social care assessment at any time. Anyone receiving travel support at the time of transition from Children’s Services into Adult Social Care Services, will have transport considered as part of their initial Care Act Assessment.

• Identification of need in relation to accessing and engaging in the community

In working with people to meet their eligible needs under the Care Act 2014, Knowsley Council aims to ensure that independence is maximised, people are supported to make use of a range of community assets and resources, including their own strengths, those of their friends, families and communities, and that control over day to day live is promoted.

If there are no other ways in which the individual can reasonably access services and support, or be expected to make arrangements to access them safely, then the provision of transport by the council will be considered a need and transport will be arranged.

• Access to existing transport

A person will not normally be eligible for assisted transport if:

• They have a Motability vehicle which they drive themselves.*
• They have a Motability vehicle of which they are not normally the driver.*
• They are in receipt of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment (PIP), the purpose of which is to assist those who have mobility problems with severe difficulty walking or who need help getting around outdoors and in the community.
• They live in a registered residential care home.
• They can use public transport.
• They are assessed as able to mobilise safely to their destination, with or without mobility aids, either independently or with support from family, friends, support worker, volunteer etc. to get to a local community activity.
• They are able to walk.
• Transport can be provided by a family member or friend.
• A person contributes to a shared vehicle.
• A service user chooses to attend education or community facilities outside of their locality, and suitable service is available more locally.
• A service user is funded by another local authority to attend services in Knowsley.

*Please note, consideration will be given in exceptional circumstances where the requirement for the person to access and use a vehicle at certain times is not feasible due to other significant factors. This will be considered on an individual basis at the time of assessment.

• Assessment of mobility

A mobility assessment may be carried out to contribute to the decision regarding eligibility for transport.  This will involve assessing issues such as:

• Ability to walk outside independently.
• Requirement for wheelchair or walking aid.
• Risk of falling without support.
• Ability to bear weight to transfer.
• Ability to get in and out of property.
• Ability to get in and out of a vehicle.
• Risk of fall or self-harm due to uncontrollable movements.
• Ability to use stairs, manage gradients, steepness of stairs in home, safety, energy levels.
• Any barriers to independent travel.
• Risks to others.
• Occupational Therapy or other professional assessments.

• Assessment of ability to travel independently

An assessment of a person’s ability to travel independently may be carried out to contribute to the decision regarding eligibility for transport. This will involve the consideration of:

• Extent of the mobility problems identified above.
• Availability of family, carers or volunteers to assist with access to transport.
• Communication difficulties (e.g. ability to order a taxi or use public transport).
• Psychological factors (lack of confidence, agoraphobia).
• Experience or risk of harassment.
• Any other factors affecting personal safety.

• Identification of appropriate transport provision for those eligible

The decision to arrange transport will be based on needs, risks and outcomes and on promoting and maximising independence. Where the council does agree to arrange transport, it will ensure that the transport provided is appropriate to meet the need and is the most cost-effective means of travel.

• Prioritise the use of local services to meet the eligible need

Is there a charge?

Yes, to ensure that as many people as possible benefit from the Council’s transport provision, the Council is only able to offer subsidised travel. Each journey will currently incur a standard cost of £3.

If a person receives a Direct Payment for the provision of transport, transport charges will be deducted directly from their Direct Payment. There is an expectation that the person will pay their transport charge directly into the dedicated Direct Payment account.

If a person receives commissioned transport by the Council, they will receive an invoice that can be paid in any of the following ways; Direct Debit, Standing Order, Cheque, cash at kiosks throughout the Borough, credit/debit card by phone or over the internet and bank transfer.

Transport is a discretionary service and cannot be provided unless the person’s transport charge has been paid and will be withdrawn where the person does not continue with this contribution.

Additionally, in order to maximise independence, some service users may be eligible to undertake independent travel training. There is a subsidised cost associated with this which will be discussed upon enquiry.

How do I apply?

You do not need to apply separately for travel support; it will be considered as part of your Care Act Assessment.