Four adult care community buses should allow greater independence

Disabled people in the borough will have greater independence under a new flexible travel plan designed to better support them in accessing local amenities and activities.

Wandsworth Council has unveiled a plan to give four adult care community bases in Tooting, Wandsworth, Putney and Battersea their own self-drive minibuses.

The use of minibuses will create a more flexible service by giving disabled people the opportunity to travel to and from day services, local amenities and other activities at times that better suit them.

The 16-seater vehicles will be small enough to be driven by day care staff – enabling them to have increased and more informed daily contact with service users and their families.

Currently, the borough’s adult social services team assists clients with travel by providing six green buses that operate on fixed routes and schedules. Although bigger, these buses are currently under-utilised.

Four of these buses will be replaced with the minibuses, with the remaining two being used for anyone requiring specialist transport – particularly for anyone accessing services currently provided at the Atheldene Centre and the Burntwood Lane Social and Education Centre.

Wandsworth Council’s adult care and health spokesman, Councillor Jim Maddan, said:
“This new and improved service is all part of our bid to offer more personalised care to disabled residents. These minibuses will give service users greater independence by enabling them to arrange travel at times convenient to them – and result in shorter journey times at both the beginning and end of the day should they be visiting one of our day centres. They will also provide consistent and familiar contact and strengthen relationships between service users and their families and staff.”

The new travel plan is part of the borough’s Better Days Strategy, which is already giving disabled people a range of transport options, including private hire taxis and a travel buddy service, as part of their personal support plans.

For more information about the new system, which is expected to commence in April next year, call adult social services on 020 8871 7707 or email accessteam@wandsworth.gov.uk. Alternatively, visit www.wandsworth.gov.uk/info/200050/adult_social_care.

October 12, 2012