Safer Travel Risk Assessment Unit

Background

Prior to November 2004, the Social Services transport unit operated using four area transport managers, who allocated routes (procured), operated and managed the staff and vehicles (operations), and risk assessed services for clients attending LCC and other centres (risk assessment) in the Lancashire area.

These areas were divided into North (Lancaster, Fylde and Wyre); East (Burnley, Rossendale, Pendle, Ribble Valley, Hyndburn); Central (Preston, South Ribble, Leyland); and South (Chorley and West Lancashire).

With the implementation of the Transport Best Value Review, a restructuring process was undertaken which resulted in the establishment of 3 separate units.

The new structure is comprised of: -

• An “Operation Unit”, managing the 'in-house' fleet, based at Lancashire County Engineering Services at Bamber Bridge.
• A “Procurement Unit”, based in the Environment Directorate at Preston, responsible for planning and procuring from both in-house and the private hire sector.
• The third and new initiative was the “Risk Assessment Unit”. This unit has been formulated to undertake safer travel risks assessments for service user on Social Service and Special Education Needs Transports.

Role of the Risk Assessment Unit

The role of the risk assessment unit within the transport environment is to provide the Social Services and SpecialEducational Needs procurement unit (and their providers) with assessments that will minimise the risks to all parties involved in the transportation process.

The risk assessment unit will endeavour to identify “Risks” and “Hazards”, then make recommendations in order to minimise these risks. A review period will be set for each assessment, so that the unit may monitor and update any changes. A risk assessment can be requested from a Commissioner, Procurement Officer, Service User or member of staff.

There are various types of risk assessments and many service users will be covered by a generic risk assessment. Alternatively when a specific assessment is required a holistic approach is applied to complete a comprehensive assessment. These assessments may be undertaken in an individual’s home, day centre, school or any suitable location. These individual assessments are more in depth, taking into account wheelchair users, individual needs, parents/carers, access and egress to private properties, medical and behavioural difficulties.

The purpose of a risk assessment is to identify and minimise risks to service users or members of staff, which may be encountered during their use of transport, and to put in place measures to ensure safe working practices as far as is reasonable and practicable.

Email: riskassessment@env.lancscc.gov.uk

Tel: 01772 530710

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