Passenger Assistant Training Scheme (PATS)

Passenger Assistant Training Scheme (PATS), developed jointly by CTAUK and Hampshire County Council, provides a nationally recognised standard of training to people whose role it is to provide care and assistance to passengers travelling by road.

Following the MiDAS modular format, Passenger Assistant Training Scheme training is available throughout the UK.  Unlike MiDAS, PATS members make a commitment to assess the training needs of staff performing the role of passenger assistant on a vehicle.  These people may be paid staff, or volunteers and they may be performing the dual role of driver/carer.

Passenger Assistant Training Scheme has five modules, an induction module undertaken by all then modules looking at assisting passengers with disabilities (but not wheelchair users), assisting wheelchair users, assisting children and young people and assisting older people.

Like MiDAS, Passenger Assistant Training Scheme includes refresher training however this is only compulsory for trainers.  Refresher for passenger assistants is carried out following an assessment of training needs by their managers.

 

Passenger Assistant Training Scheme:

•  is designed for anyone who has care or supervision of passengers travelling by road - in cars, taxis, minicabs or large buses
•  is relevant to volunteers as well as paid staff
• covers legal, practical and safety issues - a comprehensive training package
• aims to improve passenger safety by providing the skills and information for passenger assistants to understand and meet the needs of their passengers
• has been developed jointly by Hampshire County Council and the Community Transport Association

Passenger Assistant Training Scheme Training - the different 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

• Module D Emergency Aid
• Module E Manual Handling
• Module F Safely Managing Challenging Behaviour