The previous transport policy was released in 2010, prior to the introduction of the Care Act 2014.
The revised transport policy will not contain any deviations from statutory requirements and current SCC best practice guidance but is still a change from the previous policy.
The revised policy is consistent with SCC’s Supporting Lives Connecting Communities framework and includes guidance for the three tiers of support:
- Tier 1: Help to help yourself
- Tier 2: Help when you need it
- Tier 3: Ongoing support for those who need it
The Care Act 2014 promotes a strengths-based approach in adult social care. The revised policy will support this and requires practitioners to consider a person’s own strengths and capabilities and what support might be available from their wider support network or within the community to help a person meet the outcomes they want to achieve.
The revised policy proposes a greater emphasis on using resources which are already available including public transport, a person’s own mobility vehicle (where applicable) and on skills development e.g. travel training. It is expected that SCC will only fund transport to meet eligible needs where no other options are available.
The revised policy means that while adults will still receive the services they are eligible to receive, there may be a change for some customers.
The revised policy will apply to all adults across the whole of Suffolk.
Video: about the proposed new transport policy
