The Fife Dementia Strategy: 2010 – 2020 - The Knowledge Network

option of choice for many, and often necessary to prevent social isolation.
While it is acknowledged that many service users in day care have complex
needs which are suitably met by the service, there are others who may be
attending due only to social isolation. In these cases other, less intensive
services may be appropriate if only the necessary transport arrangements
were in place.
As indicated previously, transport arrangements to and from Fife Council Day
Care Services are provided by a varying degree of accessible mini-buses and
people carriers owned and operated by the Council. Following transport from
home into the day care which is generally complete around 10am, it is
understood that many of the vehicles remain parked at the care facility or
used intermittently until they are needed to take service users home around
3pm. On some occasions the vehicles may be used by other services such as
residential care, or out in the community, however this is inconsistently
practiced and not the part of routine working arrangements. There appeared
to be a number of barriers preventing more flexible use including a lack of
qualified drivers and how to effectively overcome these is not wholly
understood. In order to optimise transport options for individuals remaining in
the community and in residential care, transport vehicles should be used
throughout the day for activities such as taking those living in care homes out,
or taking individuals living in the community to activities, lunch groups or other
services. Developing a programme to achieve such arrangements will require
involvement of both Transportation and Social Work Services, and the
involvement of local community services/groups.
In order to guard against social isolation and ensure older people are being
provided services which are appropriate to their level of need it is necessary
that all social care services operate their service owned transport as efficiently
as possible. Guidance at a national level would support this work and perhaps
enable the development of appropriate procurement partnerships to allow
social care services to extend its transport provision.
Local consultations with older people and people with dementia completed for
the Fife Dementia Strategy found they were apprehensive to use public
transport due to the inconvenience of having to plan a schedule around the
bus, lack of flexibility in terms of timing, walk distance to and from the bus
stop, and safety while on or waiting for the bus. These are in line with
concerns raised in a recent consultation conducted by Fife Council
Transportation Services. In order to address these concerns, as well as to
ensure optimal use of existing transportation vehicles, Fife Council
Transportation Service has been asked to undertake a review of community
transport provision in Fife. The review will be completed in partnership with
Social Work Services and various other groups, and consider a range of
issues and services available in Fife. A brief for this is currently being drafted.
While the review process is ongoing social care providers can facilitate access
to concessionary travel and supported transport options through the utilisation
of the Single Shared Assessment, and also through promoting the use of
appropriate local transport solutions available in their area.
56