B06c
Adults’ escort and transport
guidance for staff
This document is provided as part of a suite of policy, procedure and guidance documents to
(name of scheme) (now referred to as a ‘scheme’) as a Network Partner of Carers Trust.
1.0 SCOPE
1.1 This guidance refers to adults aged 18 or over. There is separate guidance (C.07c) for
children and young people aged 17 and under.
1.2 The aim of this document is to make sure carers and people with care needs (referred to as
service users) are kept safe when you take them on trips outside of their home, including in
vehicles and on public transport.
2.0 BACKGROUND
2.1 You can only take service users on trips out if your line manager has agreed it and the
details are written in their care and support plan. You are not allowed to take any other adults or
children with you, nor are you allowed to take any pets without specific agreement.
2.2 If you find yourself in an emergency situation where you need to transport a service user but
it isn’t in their care and support plan, contact your line manager / person on call to discuss what
to do and record what happened.
2.3 The care and support plan will give details about how you may need to help the person with
care needs when they are on a trip out with you. This could include, for example, helping them
with their medication or mobility or how to manage any behaviour issues, in the same way as
when you are providing care and support in the home.
3.0 DRIVING PRACTICALITIES
3.1 A care planner may ask if you are prepared to transport service users in:
 your own vehicle
 vehicles belonging to service users
 vehicles belonging to your scheme.
3.2 You are not obliged to agree to any of these and you won’t be penalised if you refuse, but it
might affect the amount of work you can be offered.
3.3 You need to have had a full driving licence for at least one year and it has to be suitable for
the type of vehicle you have agreed to drive.
3.4 If you already have any points on your licence or you go on to acquire some, you have to let
Policy/Escorts&transportadult/2012/02/APb006c
Last updated February 2015, to be implemented by May 2015. Review due February 2016.
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(SCO42870). Registered as a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales
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© Carers Trust 2015
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Adults’ escort and transport guidance for care workers
your line manager know straight away. You are not allowed to drive service users as part of
your work if you have more than 6 points on your licence.
3.5 Make sure your own vehicle:
 is road taxed
 has a current MOT certificate (if it is over 3 years old)
 is insured for business use (for example ‘health and social care’).
3.6 If you are asked to drive a vehicle other than your own (see 3.1 above), your line manager
will have made sure:
 it is insured for business use
 you are named as an authorised driver, or
 if the policy is on an 'any driver' basis, you meet any restrictions (for example, age or
point requirements) specified on the policy.
3.7 Seat belts
3.7.1 You are not allowed to carry anyone as a passenger in the vehicle you are driving if they
refuse or are not able to wear a seat belt.
3.7.2 The care planner will have already found out whether any proposed passengers will
agree to wear a seat belt or are able to do so and whether you will need to remind them or help
them put it on. The details will be written in the person’s care and support plan.
3.7.3 Where a passenger lacks mental capacity to decide whether to wear a seatbelt or to put it
on, the care planner will risk assess this and write down in the care and support plan what you
need to do.
3.7.4 If a passenger refuses to wear a seat belt, and you have not been told in advance what to
do about it:
 postpone the journey
 contact your line manager / the person on call and follow their advice.
3.8 Make sure all doors, harnesses / safety straps and wheelchair clamps / specialist seats are
securely fitted and fastened before starting a journey.
3.9 Observe the Highway Code at all times, including driving within speed limits and taking into
account adverse weather conditions.
3.10 You are expected to routinely check any vehicle you are driving for accessible hazards
before carrying service users as passengers in it. Hazards could include:
 medication
 sharp implements
 plastic bags.
Remove these from the vehicle or put them safely out of the reach of your passengers (for
example in the boot of the car) so that they do not pose a risk when you are travelling.
3.11 When you are driving a vehicle that doesn’t belong to you (see 3.1 above) make sure you
have a good look at it before you set off to see if there is any obvious cause for concern (see
Appendix 1).
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© Carers Trust 2015
Last updated February 2015
Review due February 2016
Crossroads Care
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Adults’ escort and transport guidance for care workers
If you have any doubts about the roadworthiness of the vehicle, don’t set off on the
journey.
If you notice anything that concerns you once the vehicle is started, stop driving.
Report any concerns to your line manager / the person on call straight away.
3.12 If you get a parking ticket or a fine while you are driving as part of your job, you will be
responsible for paying it, even if you are driving someone else’s vehicle. If your passenger asks
you to park illegally, politely decline to do so. If in doubt, speak to your line manager / the
person on call.
3.13 If your passenger is a blue badge holder, you can use it to park in accordance with the
blue badge parking scheme in your area. Make sure you know the rules and display the badge
prominently in the vehicle when you park.
3.14 Do not leave a service user unattended in a vehicle even for a short time unless you are
given written authorisation to do so by your line manager.
3.15 Weather
3.15.1 Be prepared for the weather conditions you are driving in. Make sure you always carry a
fully charged mobile phone and a functioning personal alarm.
3.15.2 Weather conditions that need special attention are:
 snow / ice ( depending on local terrain, it might be advisable to carry a flash light,
blankets, hot drinks and shovels)
 fog
 very hot weather ( take a supply of liquids with you to avoid dehydration)
 heavy rain
 high winds.
3.15.3 In bad weather or when there is a Met Office warning in place, your manager will make
sure only essential journeys are made. You are not expected to put yourself or others at risk in
severe weather conditions.
4.0 TRANSPORTING OXYGEN
4.1 When oxygen is being carried in a vehicle you are driving, your line manager will make sure
the company insuring the vehicle has been informed.
4.2 Transporting oxygen is classified as a specialised task and the following safety rules apply.
 Individual oxygen cylinders must be carried in the carry bag provided by the cylinder
supplier.
 Any oxygen cylinder being carried must be secured safely in the boot of the vehicle with
suitable protection placed around it to prevent it moving whilst it is being transported.
 Oxygen cylinders must not be transported unsecured in the front or rear passenger seats
of the vehicle.
 When it is absolutely necessary to transport several oxygen cylinders, a suitable green
safety box (sourced from the cylinder supplier) must be used to secure them.
 Only the minimum number of cylinders to provide sufficient oxygen to the service user
must be carried during the journey / activity.
 Oxygen must never be used in a fuel station (for instance when refuelling a vehicle).
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© Carers Trust 2015
Last updated February 2015
Review due February 2016
Crossroads Care
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Adults’ escort and transport guidance for care workers
No-one is allowed to smoke in a vehicle when oxygen cylinders are being transported /
used.
Oxygen cylinders must not be stored or left unattended in a vehicle.
Oxygen cylinders must be removed from vehicles as soon as possible.
Oxygen cylinders must be checked to ensure they are not leaking and their valves are
closed when being transported.
There must be adequate ventilation (fresh air) to avoid oxygen enrichment during use of
oxygen in a vehicle, by adjusting the vehicle ventilation system or opening a window.
Pressurised canisters (for example hairsprays, deodorants, anti-freeze) or alcohol hand
gels must not be used in the presence of oxygen to avoid risk of ignition.
Your line manager will:
 make sure you are aware of the potential hazards involved in carrying oxygen
 provide you with written instructions detailing the actions to be taken in the event of an
accident or emergency (see 6.3 below).
5.0 STAFF TRAVELLING AS PASSENGERS IN SERVICE USER VEHICLES
5.1 In exceptional circumstances the care planner may ask if you are willing to travel as a
passenger in a vehicle driven by a service user. They will already have checked:
 the roadworthiness of the vehicle to be driven, including current MOT, road tax and
insurance cover
 the suitability of the proposed driver, including their current driving licence, any points on
their licence, their driving history and medical fitness to drive as appropriate.
5.2 Before you set off on the journey:
 carry out a visual check of the vehicle for any obvious cause for concern (see Appendix
1)
 assess the person’s fitness to drive safely on the day (for example how they present and
their apparent state of health).
5.3 If you have any doubts about the roadworthiness of the vehicle or the service user’s ability
to drive safely, don’t agree to travel with them and get in touch with your line manager / the
person on call straight away to let them know the situation.
6.0 ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS (RTA)
6.1 If you are involved in an RTA while you are at work, if possible:
 make sure both yourself and your passenger/s are safe
 call for the emergency support you need as soon as you can
 start any necessary first aid
 notify your line manager / the person on call
 write down the registration numbers of other vehicles involved
 obtain the names and addresses of the other drivers and their insurance details
 obtain the names and addresses of any witnesses
 try and assess the actual damage caused.
6.2 You may also be required to report the accident in person to the police within 24 hours of
the incident occurring. Talk to your line manager about this.
6.3 If you are transporting oxygen in your vehicle:
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© Carers Trust 2015
Last updated February 2015
Review due February 2016
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Adults’ escort and transport guidance for care workers
evacuate the area, getting a safe distance from the vehicle, and safe as far as other traffic
and hazards are concerned
tell the emergency services the vehicle has oxygen on board
do not use any cylinders that have been affected by the incident.
6.4 Depending on the circumstances, you may well need to accompany your passenger/s to
hospital, especially if they have a problem communicating. Be prepared to pass on any key
information about them to emergency service staff.
6.5 Please be aware that any resulting insurance claim made will be covered by your own
insurance policy and NOT by your scheme’s insurance.
7.0 REPORTING INCIDENTS
7.1 You have to report any adverse / untoward accidents / incidents /near misses that occur on
trips out to your line manager / the person on call as soon as possible and will be asked to fill in
an incident form (DT.03) at the earliest opportunity.
8.0 LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
8.1 You will find general learning and development requirements relevant to this guidance in the
learning and development guidance (E.13c).
9.0 ACCEPTANCE
9.1 You are required to sign to indicate that you have received, read and understood the
content of this guidance as directed by your line manager and on completion of training it is your
personal responsibility to follow it. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary proceedings.
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Policy/Escorts&transportadult/2012/02/APb006c
© Carers Trust 2015
Last updated February 2015
Review due February 2016
Adults’ escort and transport guidance for care workers
Crossroads Care
APPENDIX 1
VISUAL CHECK OF VEHICLES
1. Whilst you are not expected to be a qualified car mechanic, you are required to carry out a
basic visual check on any vehicle not belonging to you that you are requested to drive / travel in
as a passenger.
2. The check will include any evidence of:
 bald tyres or suspected flat tyres
 anything hanging down under body of vehicle
 broken lights, indicators
 damaged or defective tailgates or doors
 front or back of vehicle significantly sloping up/down or lower left or right hand side etc.
 obvious signs that the vehicle is perhaps not being maintained as will be expected
 seat belt webbing
 anchorage for wheelchairs
 faulty lights, indicators
 faulty windscreen wipers / washers.
3. Issues when driving the vehicle include:
 brakes
 handbrake
 seats
 doors.
If in doubt about any mechanical failure, contact your line manager or the person on call to
discuss the situation.
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Policy/Escorts&transportadult/2012/02/APb006c
© Carers Trust 2015
Last updated February 2015
Review due February 2016