Internal Transport FAQs

Dear Customers, Families, and Carers,  

You recently received a letter explaining the changes to Surrey Choices Transport. Currently, transport to and from our Day Services and Vocational Projects is provided by six different transport providers. From September we will be transitioning to providing this transport directly ourselves. The full letter and further information can be read online at www.surreychoices.com/inhouse-transport

To support you during this transition, we have put together a Questions and Answers sheet to offer some answers to queries you may have. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the manager of your service. If they are unable to assist you, please contact Camilla Blanchard, Transport Project Manager on 07860 918176 or camilla.blanchard@surreychoices.com. Alternatively, you can contact me via my details below.

Kind regards 

Jerry Ratcliff 

Chief Operating Officer 

Surrey Choices 

Email: jerry.ratcliff@surreychoices.com 

In-House Transport Questions and Answers

What do Surrey Choices Passenger Assistants do and what support will they give on the transport?

Our Passenger Assistants (formerly known as Escorts) will be on journeys when required. They will help get people on and off the minibuses and provide support on an individual basis where required during journeys.

My family member has a medical condition such as Epilepsy or Diabetes and they may need emergency care and support when they are on the transport – how will you be able to support them?

Every journey your family member takes with us will be supported by a Passenger Assistant when it is required. They will be trained to provide the necessary care for your loved one.

What training do the Drivers and Passenger Assistants have?

Both the Drivers and Passenger Assistant’s will have all the mandatory training required form Surrey Choices. Drivers will additionally be assessed as safe and have training on how to clamp wheelchairs for safety. Passenger Assistants will be trained to be able to manage the medical needs of the people they support on the journeys.

What does Surrey Choices do to keep your vehicles safe and roadworthy?

All vehicles we own have a full vehicle history check, MOT and service to ensure they meet road safety legal requirements. In the event of a vehicle failing, each area has a backup vehicle to ensure your family member can still receive transport.

Why is my family member going straight to and from their community activities and not to and from their Community Hub in the morning and afternoon?

Rather than your family member travelling to the hub, and then travelling to the activity, they go directly to where they want to. This means more time spent doing the things they love and less time travelling to and from Community Hubs.

What buses will you be using?

We will be using a combination of minibuses and Multi-Purpose Vehicle’s. We will ensure that these meet the needs of the people who will be using them, and they will go through the same rigorous regular checks that our current vehicles do.