I want to work at this job, what is it called?

Widelats

Its the person who goes round in a special van, which can get wheelchairs in it, it has usually a electric lift in the back and a wheelchair can be secured in there.
I want to be the guy who helps the wheelchair person into the vehicle, what is that job called?

AND - does anyone know if i can get training for this job somewhere, preferably Scotland?

tomtontom

A Patient Transport Escort, who generally also drives the vehicle.

The only training prerequisite would be a driving licence and a clean DRB check. It would also be helpful if you had experience working in a healthcare role.

HappyMJ

Widelats wrote: »

Its the person who goes round in a special van, which can get wheelchairs in it, it has usually a electric lift in the back and a wheelchair can be secured in there.
I want to be the guy who helps the wheelchair person into the vehicle, what is that job called?

AND - does anyone know if i can get training for this job somewhere, preferably Scotland?

Porter?

Taxi/minicab/private hire driver?

No formal training required. It'll all be on the job training showing you how to safely use the lift and that's about it.

You'll need good customer service skills and you need to be fit. You'll need a clean driving licence and be willing to undergo a check on your criminal history of which you should have no more than minor petty offences.

Widelats

OK thanks, i will look for those job titles, there is more training though, you must know how to properly secure the wheelchair in the van.

I have good skills with customers, i would also make sure they are comfortable and ok before i set off, not like a bus driver who is hitting 30 mph before anyone has a chance to sit down.

Thanks.

lincroft1710

Widelats wrote: »

there is more training though, you must know how to properly secure the wheelchair in the van.

Surely it can't take that long to learn, don't these vehicles have special anchoring points

Nebulous2

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Surely it can't take that long to learn, don't these vehicles have special anchoring points

Midas training is the recognised course. It takes a week from memory, but can also be done in smaller sections over a period of time.

My experience has been of people having a job which requires it and then get sent on the course, rather than people taking the course in the hope of getting a job.

Widelats

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Surely it can't take that long to learn, don't these vehicles have special anchoring points

Yes! They do, i was in the van a few times with my cousin - but, the points need to be secured in a certain order, they criss cross and secure the chair firmly on the floor in the middle of the van, i think there was 8 points to anchor and when the chair is being untied they must go in a certain order again reversed, then the lift has anchor points, they have to be secured on that as well, then untied, then fixed in the van, and i am not sure of the way the anchor points are done for electric mobility vehicles, they are different than regular wheelchairs.

Widelats

Nebulous2 wrote: »

Midas training is the recognised course. It takes a week from memory, but can also be done in smaller sections over a period of time.

My experience has been of people having a job which requires it and then get sent on the course, rather than people taking the course in the hope of getting a job.

Thanks, i may check them out.

xapprenticex

Seems like of if those jobs where 'knowing someone' come sin handy.

Widelats

xapprenticex wrote: »

Seems like of if those jobs where 'knowing someone' come sin handy.

Yes it would. I tried to volunteer but they charity did not get back to me, they can't be that desperate for people to help them.

agrinnall

For Scotland I would suggest looking at the Scottish Community Transport Association's website. A lot of third sector transport providers are members of the CTA and their drivers will often be MIDAS trained. When I last had any contact with the sector there was a bit of an issue with finding suitable training in Scotland but that may have changed.

http://www.ctauk.org/in-your-area/scotland.aspx