My courses focus on building confidence and competence and developing awareness around the use of wheelchairs and occupant restraint systems.
Occupant and wheelchair restraint training
I am a qualified Passenger Assistant Trainer (PATs), and I can work with you to train staff.PATS is the Passenger Assistant Training Scheme and the Community Transport Association
https://ctauk.org/about-cta/
The scheme provides a nationally recognised standard for training Passenger Assistants: those whose role is to provide care and assistance to passengers travelling on the road.
Who is PATS aimed at?
PATS applies to any organisation operating or using minibuses; it will usually be organisations that use an accessible minibus. Member organisations range from small voluntary organisations operating one vehicle to local authorities operating large fleets of minibuses, schools, colleges and universities
Legally, the vehicle driver is responsible for every occupant. In some organisations, for example, schools/school transport runs, staff assist the driver in securing the wheelchairs in the minibuses.
Where not fitted directly by the driver, they must check the staff members’ work and identify any corrections needed.
Experience has shown me that some staff may have attended a course many years ago, or some may not have ever attended a course, and they do their best to secure the passengers in their wheelchairs using knowledge passed from staff members to staff members.
Sometimes these practices passed on may not be correct.
I can work with you to train staff or review their practices.
Not all settings wish for a PATS course. Some organisations wish for training more tailored to their requirements.
Passenger Restraint Systems
Some passengers may require specialist harnesses when travelling in otherwise unmodified seats.
I can guide staff on some of the more secure harnesses available on the market and their safe fitting.
I can work with you to train staff or review their practices. I have started to work with a council to review transport providers’ practices.
All wheelchair users who travel in their wheelchairs on mini-buses or other suitable vehicles must be secured safely using wheelchair and occupant restraint systems.
Being aware of the latest equipment on the market might help your staff reconfigure the vehicles quickly and more safely.
I’ve spent much time working with the fiddly catches, and some of the recent innovations have excited me, as they have the potential to speed up reconfiguring mini-buses and save time and knees.
I will always recommend that all staff are familiar with tail lifts and that clear documentation is readily available.
