Transport policy changes to help those who receive Adult Social Care support get out and about

The changes were approved at today’s Cabinet meeting and the policy will now be implemented.

The new policy aims to ensures that people have the information, advice and support needed to get out and about in Worcestershire and to travel to their activities in the way that best suits them.

The new policy will also support people to be more independent, for example through better access to community travel options.

Links will also be made with wider transport initiatives such as the Bus Service Improvement Plan to help make sure transport services are accessible to people with additional needs.  

Councillor Adrian Hardman, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “I’m really pleased to have presented this at Cabinet this morning, it’s important we provide those who receive adult social care with the resources to make the most of the support we are able to offer them. We had some great feedback during the engagement, and we are working with our partners to ensure that adults with support needs can continue to make the most of the wide range of transport options available in the county.”

When developing the new policy, the Council talked to people who use the Council’s services, family carers and wider partners and stakeholders including Worcestershire’s Learning Disability Partnership Board.

The majority of the people who use the Council’s commissioned transport are people with learning disabilities, so  members of the Partnership Board have therefore played an important role in shaping the new policy.

The development of the policy is part of some wider work on transport for people with support needs. 

This includes the development of web-based resources for people to get better information and advice, and initiatives such as independent travel training, which will continue to build on the work to date.