Renal Driver Handbook

Renal Driver Handbook Issue 2 June 2016 Page 1 of 15

Introduction Firstly, welcome to our charity, Community Transport. You are carefully considering working on the renal contract, which is very different to our day-today business of transporting children and vulnerable adults. Following a successful pilot scheme in 2015, we were fortunate enough to win several contracts from West Midlands Ambulance Service to transport patients to kidney dialysis centres and then home again. You would be part of a highly trained, prestigious team of renal drivers that looks after some very poorly people, transporting them to receive life-saving treatment in the NHS. You would also be an ambassador for Community Transport and your behaviours and conduct should be exemplary at all times. Remember that your care and treatment of these patients will help to save their lives What is Kidney Dialysis? Dialysis is a procedure to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys stop working properly. It often involves diverting blood to a machine to be cleaned. Normally, the kidneys filter the blood, removing harmful waste products and excess fluid and turning these into urine to be passed out of the body. If the kidneys aren't working properly, for example because you have advanced chronic kidney disease (kidney failure), the kidneys may not be able to clean the blood properly. Waste products and fluid can build up to dangerous levels in the body. Left untreated, this can cause a number of unpleasant symptoms and eventually be fatal. Dialysis filters out unwanted substances and fluids from the blood before this happens. Kidney failure may be a temporary problem and dialysis can be stopped when the kidneys recover. But often, someone with kidney failure will need a kidney transplant. It's not always possible to carry out a kidney transplant straight away, Page 2 of 15

so dialysis may be needed until a suitable donor kidney becomes available. If a kidney transplant isn't suitable, for example because the person isn t not well enough to have a major operation, dialysis may be needed for the rest of their life. Haemodialysis is the most common type of dialysis and is the one most people are aware of. During the procedure, a tube is attached to a needle in the patient s arm. Blood passes along the tube and into an external machine that filters it, before it's passed back into the arm along another tube. This is usually carried out three days a week, with each session lasting around four hours. Patients receiving kidney dialysis often have a number of side effects. These include fatigue (tiredness) and feeling cold. You must remember this when transporting people from their homes, into the minibus and then to the centre. Patients often cannot walk very far, need special assistance and need to be kept warm and dry. Becoming a Renal Driver with Community Transport Renal drivers are carefully selected for their skills, knowledge and experience. New recruits are given a comprehensive and lengthy induction. You will be trained to a high standard and given work-shadowing opportunities before going it alone. All drivers receive MIDAS training and are highly skilled drivers who show high levels of care and compassion for each and every patient. Your performance will be regularly reviewed and any compliments or complaints will be fed back to you. Your Role The full details of your role as a minibus driver will be outlined in your job description. In addition to these responsibilities, there are some very specific qualities, behaviours and competencies that we expect from our renal drivers. These are: Page 3 of 15

You pay special attention to the care and welfare of each and every patient. We expect our renal drivers to go the extra mile in looking after their passengers. You are polite and courteous at all times. Patients are addressed as Mr or Mrs No other terms should be used. You must escort the patients from their homes to the vehicle and then into the renal treatment centre. The same applies on the journey home. You must never take patients from the renal unit unless you have advised staff of your presence and have their permission to take people home. Renal Drivers have a different uniform to other drivers. Your appearance is very important. You should be clean and smart at all times. Your driving needs to be of the highest standard possible. Renal patients are often very poorly and need you to drive smoothly and carefully. Personal hygiene is critical. You must practice infection control techniques which include hand washing and uniform cleanliness. Your minibus must be kept spotlessly clean at all times. Pay special attention to data protection and client confidentiality. Passenger lists must be carefully guarded and never left in public view. Your Day Generally speaking, our renal drivers have a pretty early start to the day. Most patients need to be at the centre by around 7am in the morning. Once you ve carried out the necessary vehicle checks, you start the day by picking up your first group of patients. These patients come from a diverse range of backgrounds. Some are elderly and quite a lot have difficulty walking, so need a Page 4 of 15

great deal of assistance getting on and off the bus. Others need to travel using a wheelchair, so will need to be carefully secured before you drive away. Once you reach the renal dialysis centre, you will need to liaise with the nursing team and ensure the patients are safely passed over for treatment. You will then return to base for a break or to carry out other work. After around 3 hours or so, you ll collect a new group of passengers and take them into the renal dialysis centre. Once you ve taken this new group into the centre, you ll take the first group of patients back home. You ll then return to base again for your afternoon rest. Finally, you ll return in the early evening to collect the second group from the centre and take this group home. Some renal centres also operate a twilight shift, so the drivers work into the night. In addition to the deep cleaning that takes place, we also expect our renal drivers to mop the minibus floor on a daily basis and clean their vehicles, inside and out, once a week. Drivers also need to be good at route planning, using technology (sat nav) and completing paperwork. Each driver needs to complete a vehicle inspection sheet, vehicle sheet, and patient log. At the end of a long day, you ll return your vehicle to the depot, drop off your keys and completed paperwork and take a well-earned overnight break before returning early next morning. The renal centres operate 6 days a week Monday to Saturday. Apart from Sundays, the only day the centres close is Christmas Day. This means that renal drivers are expected to work on Saturdays, Bank Holidays and Boxing Day. The Charity recognises this inconvenience by giving time-off in lieu for these days Page 5 of 15

and also by paying the renal drivers a higher daily rate to compensate for the unsocial hours worked. It is common for renal drivers to work a four day on; four day off shift pattern. Drivers work four long days and then take four days rest (five days when the rest break incorporates a Sunday) Drivers working this shift pattern also benefit from only having to work two Saturdays in every four. This does mean, however, that the hours worked in one week are shorter than the next. Drivers working this shift pattern have a different contract of employment that stipulates the number of hours worked annually. UNIFORM AND DRESS CODE This information supersedes or supplements the rules and policies as set out in the Employee Handbook 1. When joining the Charity, renal drivers will be issued with a uniform. This will consist of 5 white shirts, 2 clip-on ties, a coat and 2 pairs of trousers 2. Uniform is to be worn at all times when at work. 3. All drivers are issued with identity badges. These must be worn at all times when at work. 4. Uniform is to be worn only during working hours and not worn for any other purpose unless expressly approved by the line manager. 5. When an employee s religion calls for head coverings etc. the principle is that the Charity s corporate colours will be issued. Page 6 of 15

6. Hats and headwear should not be worn unless approved by the line manager or for religious reasons. 7. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) equipment issued will consist of a highviz jacket and safety shoes. These also need to be worn when at work and in line with the requirements set out in the Safe Driver Manual and Road Risk Policy. 8. Uniforms should be washed regularly and shirts changed each day. High levels of personal hygiene must be observed at all times. 9. Safety shoes should be cleaned and polished regularly. 10. It is recommended that the only jewellery worn is a wrist watch with strap made of washable, wipeable material. This watch should be removed during hand washing. 11. All cuts and abrasions must be covered with waterproof dressings. Fingernails kept short, clean and free from nail polish. False nails and nail extensions must not be worn. 12. Only plain wedding bands should be worn at work as stoned and etched rings can harbour micro-organisms and may cause skin damage to patients during manual handling. 13. If earrings are worn, these should be discreet studs, All other body piercings should be covered when at work. 14. Long hair is tied back to prevent hair from falling forward into the face of a patient during transport. Page 7 of 15

INFECTION CONTROL Dialysis patients are sometimes very poorly and at risk of infection that could be life threatening. In order to avoid this risk, it is important that very high levels of personal and vehicle cleanliness are maintained at all times. 1. Your vehicle will be deep cleaned at least once a month by an external provider. 2. As part of your daily duties, you will be required to mop the floor of your vehicle using Chlor-clean on a daily basis. You will also wipe all grab handles, headrests and other hard surfaces with Chor-clean wipes. You will receive training in using Chlor-clean as there are Health & Safety considerations when using this product. 3. You are required to jet-wash the outside and outside of your vehicle at least once a week. 4. Smoking (and the use of vaporisers) is strictly prohibited when (a) in or around company vehicles (b) in the presence of patients (c) within NHS premises. Ideally, drivers should only smoke during their rest periods. 5. The cab area of your vehicle should be kept clean and free of debris at all times. All rubbish must be removed at the end of the shift and any clinical waste should be placed in the yellow sack provided. 6. Your hands should be washed regularly using soap and water. If this is not possible when out on the road, you are required to use the wipes provided. Hands should be washed: Before patient contact Before eating, drinking, handling food and smoking Page 8 of 15

work After patient contact After contact with blood or body fluids After visiting the toilet or blowing your nose After removing your PPE Job Description Before starting and leaving 7. Wrist watches when worn, must be removed to wash hands. 8. Bracelets and charity bands should not be worn. 9. Hands should be dried with paper towels. 10. Drivers should use hand sanitizers when soap and water is not available. 11. Each vehicle is equipped with Nitrile gloves, antiseptic wipes, shoe covers and hand sanitizer. Drivers will receive training in how to use this equipment. 12. Eating of food in the rear saloon of the vehicle is prohibited. Drivers should only eat food in the front cab when it is not possible to take a break at other times. Page 9 of 15

IMPORTANT RULES 1. If you arrive to collect a patient and you cannot get a response, YOU MUST phone the relevant control centre. Advise them on the situation and ask for instruction. 2. Delays to your schedule must be reported must be notified immediately to the Control Centre and your supervisor. 3. Should one of your patients becomes ill whilst on the bus, phone 999 and tell them your location and that you re carrying renal dialysis patients. After this, phone the control centre and ask for instruction. 4. You must NEVER leave or refuse to collect a patient without the express permission of the control centre. Renal patients can suffer very badly if they don t receive regular dialysis. 5. Renal patients are very poorly and require the utmost in care. Please do not expect them to walk any distance. They must be helped on and off the bus and into the dialysis unit. 6. If the patient needs to be transported in a wheelchair, please carry one in your bus and use it accordingly. We will supply wheelchairs upon request. 7. Ambulance Control only allows us to pick up and drop off at the addresses provided. If a patient asks to be dropped off at a different address to that provided, you must not take them elsewhere other than the address provided on your sheet. 8. Most importantly, should one of your patients trip, fall or injure themselves, this must be reported to both your supervisor and the Operations Centre Page 10 of 15

straight away. You should also record all the details on the incident form provided and take photographs of the area/ hazard if necessary. 9. You must not accept any gifts or gratuities (however small) from patients or their relatives. 10. Any lost property must be reported to the Operations Centre immediately, who will advise you of the most appropriate action to be taken. REPORTING INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS 1. Any vehicular accident should be reported as set out in the Charity s vehicle accident reporting procedure. 2. Any incident or accident that involves personal injury to a Charity employee (including yourself) should be reported to your line manager and followed up in line with the Charity s Health & Safety Policy and Procedures. 3. Should anything happen to a patient whilst in your care (however minor the incident seems) this must be reported as soon as practically possible. This means you should phone your line manager as soon as you re able and without risk to yourself or your passengers. 4. Examples include trips, falls, and slips, however minor an incident may seem at the time. 5. After phoning your line manager, you ll need to complete the Incident Reporting Form as soon as you can and hand it to your line manager. Page 11 of 15

PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITY 6. 1. Renal drivers are bound by a legal duty to protect personal information they may come into contact with during the course of your work. 2. You should never give out information on patients or staff to people who do not need to know. If in doubt, contact your line manager for advice. 3. Drivers must not talk about patients or other employees in public places or where they can be heard. 4. You must not leave passenger lists or any other personal information lying around or on the dashboard of your vehicle. 5. All paperwork must be removed from the vehicle at the end of the shift. During the day, patient information must not be viewable from the outside of the vehicle. Page 12 of 15

GENERAL INFORMATION JOB TITLE: RESPONSIBLE TO: LOCATION: SALARY BAND HOURS WORKED: TYPE OF APPOINTMENT: DISCLOSURE REQUIRED: Minibus Driver Operations Supervisor Birmingham 7.85 per hour 37 per week (annualised hours) including regular Saturday working Permanent Yes DBS Enhanced Disclosure ROLE PURPOSE To drive all Community Transport vehicles legally, safely and responsibly, taking either; groups of passengers, goods or individuals on a demand responsive basis, to and from different destinations. To operate all auxiliary equipment fitted to vehicles such as lifts, ramps, steps, radios, wheelchair tie-down and passenger restraint systems, and cab heaters, the removal and replacement of seating where necessary etc, in a safe and proper manner. To ensure passengers are embarked, carried and disembarked safely. That appropriate seat belts and when required child seats are used at all times the vehicle is in motion and that any wheelchairs, frames, oxygen cylinders, luggage and goods are properly and safely restrained. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES 1. To transport passengers accessing Community Transport services in a safe and responsible manner. 2. If and where the service dictates, to operate the Mobisoft/Trapeze journey information and routing system, collect passenger fares, record concessions and issue tickets 3. To support the gathering and provision of monitoring data as required by service commissioners 4. To provide cover for passenger assistants as required. Page 13 of 15

5. To provide cover for goods vehicles drivers on an ad hoc basis when required and following appropriate training, be responsible in all aspects of safe loading and driving goods vehicles during the collection and delivery of donated furniture, household removals, goods and house clearances. 6. To be responsible for meeting the legal requirements of Road Traffic Regulations, Construction and Use Regulations, Domestic Driving Rules and use of tachographs where relevant and all other aspects of Road Transport legislation. 7. To ensure that vehicles are cleaned on a regular basis (inside and out) 8. To ensure all Community Transport s requirements for drivers in relation to vehicle maintenance, safety, fare collection and data recording are met. 9. To attend training courses as appropriate for the improvement of the service, including: Assessment and training to MiDAS standards Manual handling Awareness of safeguarding issues for children and vulnerable adults First aid Emergency evacuation from a minibus Use of electronic information and routing systems (Mobisoft/Trapeze) 10. To ensure vehicles run to schedules, as identified. To ensure the correct completion of paperwork appertaining to each trip undertaken within the working day. 11. To inspect your vehicle as required by current legislation and Community Transport policies and report any defect or damage to your manager, using the Community Transport defect reporting procedure 12. To ensure that all customers of Community Transport are given clear directions concerning use of the services, are welcomed with courtesy and respect at all times and given assistance as required and within reason. 13. To demonstrate responsibility and leadership for promoting and championing all aspects of equal opportunities; valuing and managing diversity in all areas of one s work 14. Responsible for ensuring and achieving the objectives of the Community Transport Health & Safety policy and compliance with the policies and procedures as contained in the Safe Driver and Employee Handbooks 15. Undertake any other duties to meet your team and organisation objectives following consultation with your manager. Page 14 of 15

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA DESIRABLE CRITERIA Application Form Interview Assessment Centre Other Job Description PERSON SPECIFICATION. ASSESSMENT METHOD The table indicates the method by which the skills/knowledge/level of competence in each area will be assessed. Education and Qualifications Education to NVQ Level 2 or equivalent (or a willingness to work towards) Current driving licence with D1 (101) entitlement (max. 3 points) Experience Experience of driving minibuses and/or larger vehicles Experience of working in the voluntary sector Experience of cash handling Experience of working on a demand responsive transport service or commercial bus service Skills and Abilities Resilient and able to perform in a pressurised environment Able to act as a team player Demonstrate a commitment to Continuous Professional Development Ability to respect client confidentiality Motivated to work towards creating a safe, open and trusting environment Awareness of Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Issues and the boundaries of professional relationships Work Circumstances Being prepared to work flexibly to meet the needs of the business including unsocial hours, such as weekends, mornings and evenings Issue date: 08.04.16 Approved for issue: LW Page 15 of 15