Risk Assessment for Social Care Staff Transporting Clients or Service Users in Non-Council Owned Vehicles
Last updated:It is common for Social Care staff to be in a position of needing to transport clients, either in Council vehicles or in their own vehicles in the course of their work. Whilst this can include picking the client up from their own home it is equally as likely to include transporting the client as part of their day service activities, as we increasingly try to work with people in mainstream community settings rather than segregated buildings. However, we need to ensure that all necessary actions have been taken to ensure the safety of both staff and clients whilst in transit.
It is not a requirement for Council staff to provide or use their own vehicle in the course of their duty unless this is stated in their job description. Staff should not feel under pressure to provide transport or travel alone with clients if they have significant uncertainty or doubt about the safety of this action. This applies whether the member of staff is using their own vehicle or using a Council vehicle.
Where staff are willing to use their own vehicle, they are responsible for ensuring that it is adequately insured for ‘business use’. It is important that all staff accept responsibility for ensuring that this clause exists, and managers regularly check that it is in place. Any queries about this should be clarified with the Insurance Team.
On the following two pages, there are Risk Assessment forms ‘A’ & ‘B’ which should be jointly completed by drivers and Line Managers to assess if it is reasonably safe to transport clients in staff’s own vehicles.
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Please print or photocopy as many blank Forms ‘A’ & ‘B’ as is necessary.
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Form ‘A’ relates to factors involving the vehicle and driver. When completed, it is to be kept with the drivers personal file at relevant establishment.
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Form ‘B’ relates to factors involving the client and journey and is to be kept with the clients file but must be made available for all driver/escorts/managers to access.
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Please answer all questions, record n/a in notes column if question not applicable.
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It is advised that the forms are completed jointly by driver and line manager.
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Form ‘A’ needs to be completed at intervals (at least yearly) but does not need to be done for every journey. It is advised that it is reviewed when material factors change e.g., change of car, or health of driver etc.
Form ‘B’ needs to be completed for each journey, however if same journey/same client/same driver/same vehicle etc. then form ‘B’ can be completed once for a set of journeys.