SCC to Help Train Disabled Adults in Employment Skills and Use Public Transport

Published on: 21 Jun, 2019
Updated on: 28 Jun, 2019

By Rebecca Curley

local democracy reporter

Adults with learning disabilities are to be trained to use buses and in more employment skills as part of a move to reduce the number in residential care homes.

Those aged over 16 and in supported living will also be aided in their homes or those of their carers under a Shared Lives scheme, council papers show.

Surrey County Council is transforming its adult services department and renewing its contract with SCC-owned company Surrey Choices Limited. New agreements include the emphasis on helping people to use public transport and find jobs.

This March, changes to concessionary bus passes restricted use between 9.30am and 11pm. Pass-holders said then the changes would impact them getting to work on time and raised concerns they were unable to communicate with bus drivers to ask for tickets.

The new plans states that using buses and public transport will improve mental wellbeing and increase self-esteem and independence.

More than 1,200 people in Surrey access a range of services, including respite, and present arrangements mean many travel by taxi.

SCC spends £13 million on the services provided by Surrey Choices Limited. The changes are expected to generate a saving of £0.3m for 2020/21.

Carer groups and adults accessing the services have been consulted and further talks are planned after the new contract is in place.

Papers to go before councillors on the committees-in-common sub-committee on Wednesday, June 26, outline the changes.

They state that adults aged 16 to 25 with Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP) will be offered internships to help them into paid jobs as well as more voluntary work, plus a “move away” from “outdated day services” to a new model offering life and employment skills.

This will include using council-owned buildings less and looking for more “innovative and community-based solutions” and add: “The proposed move from arranging transport to and from activities towards more travel training will allow people to travel independently via public transport.”

The current contract expires on August 17.

Responses to SCC to Help Train Disabled Adults in Employment Skills and Use Public Transport

George Potter Reply

June 21, 2019 at 4:40 pm

I find it ironic that SCC is proposing to “train” disabled adults how to use public transport when it was only a few months ago that SCC scrapped free bus travel for disabled adults during peak times (e.g. the times when people might need public transport to get to work).

It’s hard to see this as anything other than hypocritical tokenism from a Tory administration that has consistently slashed public services for the most vulnerable and needy and which has made it harder for disabled people to commute.

George Potter is a Lib Dem borough councillor for Burpham.