APPENDIX J:

APPENDIX J:

POLICY:         SAFE TRANSPORTATION OF CONSUMERS

PURPOSE

To establish minimum standards for staff related to their responsibility to ensure safety of consumers they transport in the course of conducting The Ship Group Community Services business.

POLICY

It is the policy of The Ship Group Community Services that only on-duty employees may transport consumers in the course of conducting business and will do so in the safest manner possible. 

PROCEDURE

1. In order to ensure health, safety, and well-being of any consumer being transported a process has been put in place that includes, but is not limited to, the following at minimum:

A. Any employee, student, or volunteer who transports consumers must have completed verification of driver’s license and review of the driving record at the start date of the individual’s employment, and at least annually thereafter. Verification shall be maintained by The Ship Group Community Services Individuals shall not transport consumers until such verification has been conducted.

B. All employees must be in possession of an unrestricted, valid driver’s license during the operation of a company vehicle.

C. Individuals are not permitted to transport consumers if his/her driving record shows points for the following traffic convictions within the past two (2) years: manslaughter, negligent homicide, or other felony involving use of a motor vehicle; operating under the influence of liquor or drugs; reckless driving; failure to stop and disclose identity at the scene of a crash; or fleeing/eluding a police officer.

D. Staff are required to report all moving violation arrests or tickets to a supervisor or other designated person in writing within 24 hours of the violation.

E. Employees, students, and/or volunteers are prohibited from using a cellular phone while transporting consumers. If the use of a cellular phone becomes necessary, the driver should stop and park the vehicle while he/she is actively using the cellular phone.

F. The Ship Group Community Services requires that all passengers are wearing seatbelts and any child is restrained in a properly installed child safety seat at all times, in accordance with North Carolina law when consumers are being transported. A driver or passenger is exempt from the requirement to wear a seatbelt if they possess a written verification from a physician that the driver or passenger is unable to wear a safety belt for physical or medical reasons.

2. When transporting consumers in The Ship Group Community Services vehicles or personal vehicles, staff safety is paramount and will be managed through the implementation of effective risk management processes. These processes are designed to prioritize staff safety and to prevent injury to staff wherever possible.

A. Risk assessment should be conducted on all consumers requiring transportation by The Ship Group Community Services staff. These assessments should be completed prior to the delivery of support services. 

B. For existing consumers, refer to and use the consumer’s Individual Person-Centered Plan (PCP) for guidance on management of the risks identified. 

C. Transporting of consumer risk assessment should consider, but not be limited to:

1. previous history of physical assault

2. previous history of assault in vehicles

3. previous history of exiting of vehicles in a dangerous manner

4. previous history of self-harm

5. current indication of substance use.

D. Upon completion of the risk assessment, staff should consider the following recommendation.High / extreme risk: Do not transport the consumer.Medium /significant risk: Two staff to be present when transporting the 

consumer.Low risk: Transport the consumer but always conduct a mini risk assessment immediately prior.Additionally, always seat the consumer in the back seat opposite the driver, with a seat belt on.

E. A mini risk assessment should consider whether the consumer is:

1. agitated or distressed

2. displaying threatening or aggressive behavior

3. being verbally aggressive or abusive

4. mentally unwell or psychotic

5. displaying behaviors that are out of character.

The following safety guidelines should be followed by staff when transporting consumers:

• Ensure driver is familiar with vehicle and vehicle is roadworthy.

• Whenever possible, staff escorts will include same gender of staff as the consumer being escorted. If this is not possible the staff involved may assess the need to postpone transport.

• Ensure that an adequate number of staff is used to transport a consumer where there is an identified risk.

• When transporting more than one client, ensure staff have assessed the risks of this prior to the journey.

• Ensure that consumers are seated appropriately to minimize aggression and disputes

• Do not seat a consumer directly behind the driver.

• Ensure that all consumer documentation is kept safely in the vehicle.

• Ensure that appropriate car door locking mechanisms are in place and can be used if needed. 

• Ensure that vehicles are adequately fueled in advance.

• If staff is not transporting a person with a physical disability, they will not use designated handicapped parking 

areas or a handicapped parking permit.

• Transportation of others involved in the consumer’s care (i.e., family members) is at the discretion of the Program Director and/or Clinical Director.