The move to free social care staff from registering their
private cars as minicabs will enable older and disabled people to
get out from their homes for the first time in years.
The guidance issued this week by the Department of Transport
said most car journeys made in the context of care and support work
should not require a private hire vehicle (PHV) licence.
Reporting that social care and support staff should not need a
license because they were likely to have already been vetted for
their work, had specific qualifications and training which went
beyond driving and general customer care.
Chief Executive of Naaps UK, Alex Fox reportedly said its
members have been unable to help service users go out and meet
friends without going through the expensive and time consuming
process of registering cars under the PHV licensing
procedure. He also confirmed that the change will result in
many disabled and older people being able to get out of their
houses for the first time in years.
Reporting from the English Community Care Association, their
external relations manager Maria Patterson said the ECCA had
lobbied hard on this issue and was delighted that the Department of
Transport had exempted the sector from the onerous licensing
process.
Source:
Community Care
Last Updated : 05 August 2011. Page Author: Donna Godding.
