Passenger Assistant Training Scheme (PATS)
PATS is the Passenger Assistant Training Scheme and is administered by the Community Transport Association. The scheme provides a nationally recognised standard for training Passenger Assistants (those whose role it is to provide care and assistance to passengers travelling on the road) in cars, taxis, minicabs or buses. The service applies to paid and volunteer passenger assistants and drivers who act as passenger assistants.
At BlindAmbition, we have a wealth of experience to share that will help you deliver the best service for your passengers and often with very small changes.
About passenger assistant training sessions
The training takes approximately one full day and will have a maximum of 16 drivers or participants in a group at a time.
The day includes 6 hours of training with two 15 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch break. The day usually starts at 9.00 am and finishes at 3.00 pm.
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 B1: Passenger Awareness and Assistance
This module is intended for passenger assistants whose duties involve assisting disabled passengers, including wheelchair users who are able to travel out of their wheelchair. It does not cover wheelchair users who travel in their wheelchairs. It contains information on professional etiquette, assisting passengers with walking difficulties, passengers who are blind or partially sighted, passengers who are deaf or hard of hearing and passengers who may use wheelchairs to get to the vehicle.
Module B2: Assisting Passengers who travel in their Wheelchairs
This module is intended for passenger assistants whose duties include assisting passengers who travel in their wheelchairs. It looks at safe use of passenger lifts and wheelchair tie-down and occupant restraint systems (WTORS) and all the issues surrounding wheelchair user safety on vehicles.
This module will only be relevant for vehicles who are transporting the passenger in their wheelchair. (Most minicabs don’t have the capacity to do this, so this will be an optional extra module for drivers under your council who have specially adapted vehicles. We may outsource this to a specialist training facility as we would need a minibus, and the right equipment to simulate).
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
