Specialist Training Transport Solutions S.T.T.S. currently offer the following training:
PATs -Passenger Assistant Training Scheme
PATs is developed in conjunction with the MiDAS program. This course deals with the duties and duty of care of the passenger assistant. It is recommended for drivers also as they sometimes fulfil both roles whilst on the vehicles. The training is delivered over one day and is covered in four modules:
These are the PATs modules:
Module A: The Role of the Passenger Assistant
This is the 'foundation' module because it is a starting point for further training. It covers the role and responsibilities of a passenger assistant, including legal, practical and safety issues
Module B: Assisting Passengers with Disabilities
This module includes boarding and alighting from vehicles and safety information concerning wheelchair users. It is very similar to the relevant part of MiDAS - the training available to minibus drivers
Module C1: Supervising Children and Young People with Special Needs
This includes supervising children and young people with learning difficulties, autism, physical disabilities, sensory restrictions and emotional or behavioural difficulties
Module C2: Working with Adults Who Require Care and Supervision
This includes adult passengers with learning difficulties, dementia, physical disabilities, sensory restrictions and people in mental or emotional distress. Written multiple choice questionnaires are completed at the end of the day.
MiDAS -Minibus Driver's Awareness Scheme
This is a scheme developed by Community Transport Association UK. It is designed to make drivers of minibuses aware of their legal duties as a bus driver and their duty of care towards passengers. It also covers issues on disabilities and defensive driving tips.
There is a practical demonstration of wheelchair tie downs and assessment of each driver on their ability to tie down safely. The course is run over two/three days. The first day is classroom based with a multiple-choice questionnaire at the end of the day. The second day starts with the practical demonstration of a wheelchair tie down.
lete this procedure. When this is finished the driving assessments start. Each trainee is given an hours drive. During this time they will be asked to demonstrate their familiarity with the vehicle. They are then brought out driving and are shown a ten minute demonstration drive, given tips on defensive driving again, and then assessed on their ability to drive safely. Drivers are only expected to stay for their drive and are free to go and come back for their appointed time. With the tie downs in the first half of the second day, and depending on the size of the class, driving can usually carry on into a third day.
Before an assessment of driving ability takes place, drivers will be asked to:
Complete and sign a Driver Registration form
Produce a driving licence
Undertake a simple eyesight check
Driving assessment can only take place on vehicles that drivers are licensed to drive.
MiDAS Car & MPV
MiDAS Car & MPV is delivered over two days, in the same way as the MiDAS course. MiDAS car & MPV has been developed in conjunction with the MiDAS and PATs modules. It is primarily aimed at social car and hackney schemes, or anybody who drives a company owned car or mpv as part of their job duties.
The objectives are the same as that of MiDAS with an emphasis on the principles of PATs also. The module consists of an observed drive, training drivers of MPV’s and cars, and also training drivers of accessible MPV’s. There will also be class room based learning, with a multiple-choice questionnaire.
Driver C.P.C - Certificate in Professional Competence.
For more information jump to -
CPC Training Page
M.E.E.P. - Minibus Emergency Evacuation Procedures
The following topics are covered:
- Principles of Vehicle Evacuation
- The 'Golden' Rules
- Risk Assessment
- Fire Prevention
- Practical Demonstration
- Role-play with a smoke machine
This course is run over a half day and deals with the issues surrounding evacuation of a passenger-laden minibus, due to fire, accident or breakdown.
There is a practical demonstration and a role-play evacuation of a minibus. The half-day ends with a short multiple-choice questionnaire.
Manual Handling - Manual Handling for the transport of people
The manual-handling course is delivered over one day and will cover the basic principles of manual handling, but will also include:
- Training and demonstrations of the principles of manual handling
- Practical demonstrations and practical assessment of the specialist area of manual handling of people.
- Specialist equipment, which helps to transport people with low mobility.
The day ends with a practical assessment of their ability to carry out a manual handling task, and a multiple-choice questionnaire.
Occupational First Aid
The manual-handling course is delivered over one day and will cover the basic principles of manual handling, but will also include:
- Training and demonstrations of the principles of manual handling
- Practical demonstrations and practical assessment of the specialist area of manual handling of people.
- Specialist equipment, which helps to transport people with low mobility.
The day ends with a practical assessment of their ability to carry out a manual handling task, and a multiple-choice questionnaire.
Health and Safety
Rural Transport Programme companies throughout the country are adopting the OHSAS 18001 Safety Management System as a means of ensuring the highest levels of safety for our staff, passengers and contracted private operators. As part of the safety management system, RTP groups are required those who provide contract bus services to the company to meet certain safety standards and to help us provide the safest service possible. At the moment, groups try and provide their services as safe as is reasonably practicable. The presentation is given, all practicalities are gone through and then there is a questions and answers section at the end. The Board of Directors have a roll to play in this as well as the responsibilities that directors have to companies.
Health and Safety - Board of Directors.
The training is a presentation to the Board of Directors, the manager and the health and safety committee (if in place) and will look at the system in place and what needs to be implemented. A health and safety document is a working document, best done by the staff of the company - the health and safety committee along with management. Each RTP group has the health and safety cd which has to be adopted for the group.
Health and Safety - Private Operators.
What we did is to give them general info on health & safety (rights, responsibilities, that kind of thing) Then we went through driver specific h&s responsibilities. Then we asked them to turn to their handbooks, which is the last attachment, and we went through that with them so that they understood what we expected of them, and what we expected them to report.
This module is offered for the Private operators that RTP groups use. It looks at the safety standards – rights and responsibilities that private operators working within the RTP. This includes:
- Minimum safety features required on the bus
- Safety training required for bus drivers
- Accident and incident reporting
- Fire and emergency evacuation procedures
- First aid
- Maintenance of vehicles including record keeping
A booklet covering all aspects of this is also given to each of the participants. There are useful forms in the back of this as well
The training is very comprehensive and deals with all issues surrounding minibus driving and care of passengers. All courses touch on the health & safety aspects of the role of a bus driver.
When you are reading the CTA information, please disregard the issue of membership. Any drivers trained by Flexibus come in under our membership number. Alternatively, if your organisation has it’s own MiDAS number, we can train your candidates under that if supplied.
It is very important that before training commences we meet to discuss any training objectives you would like to include. It will also be important to discuss literacy levels in order to facilitate the best training possible.
If there are any questions regarding any of the courses, you can contact me on 046 9074830 or 086 3829356. You can also email me at patricia@meathtransport.com.
