Blue badge reform assessments - event - 28 march 2012 - presentation - coventry city council
- 1. Independent Mobility Assessments Sharing the experience and preparing for change Coventry City Council Enablement and Therapy Services Blue Badge Centre of Excellence Frances Kendall – Team lead
- 2. Blue Badge Centre of Excellence Blue Badge Comprehensive Reform Strategy Published in October 2008 by Dept for Transport Centres of excellence were established after submission of detailed action plans In total 8 LA were awarded the Centres of Excellence status Coventry was awarded the status jointly with Birmingham after a successful bid
- 3. Centres of Excellence Developed to: •Improve the management of the current scheme •Share good practice Coventry City Council: •Deliver a joint approach with Birmingham •Improve assessment process •Establish an Enforcement Strategy
- 4. Assessment for Blue Badge Aim •Consistent approach to assessment •Develop assessment tools within the process Action •Create robust assessment and screening tools •Standardised clinical assessment process
- 5. Consultation • Attended local Councillor ward forums • Questionnaire to a proportion of current badge holders • Attended local festivals and events to distribute awareness questionnaire and raise the Blue Badge profile • Attended service user groups • Qualitative research study with service users and Blue Badge team
- 6. Achievements •Standardised the assessment process •New improved application form introduced, based on the model form suggested by Dept for Transport. •Created and developed a mobility assessment tool •Developed a desk based assessment process •Designed a desk based assessment tool
- 7. Achievements continued • Consistent process of assessment • Reduction of badges in issue • Designated OT mobility assessor • Now responsible for Centro concessionary bus pass assessments • Raised Blue Badge profile within the city • Formalised review process in place
- 8. Blue Badge Assessment Process
- 9. Initial Contact & Applications • Contact centre provide advice on eligibility and issue application forms. New helpline was introduced on 1st January 2012 to give advice and direct applicants to online application or relevant local authority • Application form, eligibility information and links to DfT are available from Coventry City Council website. • Applications are returned to Blue Badge administration team • Applicants who are eligible “without further assessment” are processed and badges issued accordingly • Applicants who are “subject to further assessment” are forwarded to The Opal for screening by an independent mobility assessor
- 10. Applications subject to further assessment • Mobility assessor carries out desk based assessment using the screening tool. Further information may be required during this process • Decision is made to award, decline or invite for an independent mobility assessment • Appointment letter sent to applicant • Applications are recorded in categories i.e. new, reapplication, child under 3, upper-limb disability, organisational, unable and virtually unable to walk
- 11. Independent mobility assessment • IMA carried out at The Opal • Approximately 15 assessments per week • 45 minutes in length • Decision made to award or decline at the time of assessment, if possible and appropriate • Figures entered on spread sheet throughout the process • Paperwork returned to Blue Badge administration team for issue of badge via BBIS
- 12. Further Developments • Involvement of the Blue Badge admin staff to screen applications at desk based stage using the scoring matrix • New promoting independence social care assessment form includes information on outdoor mobility • awareness training for all social care staff • Development of the mobility assessor role with a dedicated mobility assessor (physiotherapist) now in post