Driving Assessor

at  NHS Professionals

CLINICAL SKILLS:

• To retrain clients in driving skills and provide adaptation familiarisation lessons for clients of the DANW.
• To be accountable for your own caseload relating to driver assessments and advice given.
• To implement client assessments using knowledge of normal driver behaviours to identify deficits in performance and solutions to inherent difficulties.
• To give advice and guidance to the team on safe driving
• To work closely with other members of the multi-professional team in providing a high standard of assessments for DANW clients.
• To continuously evaluate and discriminate between the assessment tools currently used in driving assessment suggesting a change of practice, where appropriate, following discussion with the team.
• To maintain and develop an awareness of all aspects of driving with a disability and traveling as a disabled passenger, involving technology, legal issues and developments within the field. This will include an extensive knowledge of adaptations available to assist the disabled the disabled driver and passenger.
• To demonstrate an understanding of the effects of disability and their impact upon safe driving.
• To help identify areas of physical and cognitive dysfunction which contribute to unsafe driving performance.
• To undertake client assessment regarding safety to drive using in car assessment.
• To make decisions regarding a client’s fitness to drive and to be actively involved in managing clients expectations when delivering bad news.
• To undertake risk assessments on all clients presenting for assessment, then to evaluate the risk assessment and clearly document any course of action.
• To gain consent and co-operation in assessment processes.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations in respect of a client’s driving ability and vehicle adaptation requirements. The assessment team are considering the impact if a person’s disability or health condition on their driving ability. The recommendations from the assessment will have an impact on the client’s lifestyle.

QUALIFICATIONS

GCSE or equivalent level of study
DVSA Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) Grade B (old Grade 4)
The requirement, at an agreed time when in post, to undertake the Driving Mobility Academic qualification, leading to Professional Certificate in Driving & Outdoor Mobility
Academic ability to study at Undergraduate level to be able to undertake about training
Driving Instruction for people with special needs DVSA Approved Driving Instructor Grade A (old Grades 5/6)
(e.g. Application Form/ Interview/ Certificates/ Assessment Centre/ Psychometric Tests)

EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge of normal driver behaviour in order to identify driver performance
Knowledge of DVLA licence requirements
Knowledge and awareness of the physical and cognitive effects of disability and the impact upon safe driving
Knowledge of technical issues related to vehicles / vehicle adaptations.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

Excellent communication skills in order to effectively communicate with clients, carers, other professionals and organisations.
Ability to work as a member of a team. The ability to support, teach and instruct new members of the Mobility Centre team, specifically as part of their induction.
Ability to prepare written reports to a high standard in relation to client assessment and recommendations.
Organisational ability in order to prioritise workload.
IT Skills, eg using computer for report writing, e mail, client data recording, internet search Ability to deliver, in conjunction with team colleagues, unwelcome news.

JOB SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

The ability to travel independently across the Trust
The ability to work flexibly in accordance with service needs
A good team player with the ability to be self-directed in all areas of the post.

JOB PURPOSE:

To undertake, in conjunction with clinical colleagues, driving assessments, providing informed advice and recommendations relating to the impact of a client’s medical condition or disability on their driving ability. This will include advice, as part of the team, on current driving ability, possible vehicle adaptations and, in some cases, driver cessation. The post holder will also provide specialist driving tuition as required, to Mobility Centre clients.

Primarily the post holder will be responsible for:

• The delivery of driver assessment and production of written reports following assessments.
• Driver retraining and vehicle and adaptation familiarisation lessons.
• Supporting/ leading all other types of assessments.
• Conducting talks on what the service does and help to increase referrals to potential refers.
• Maintaining the Fleet of vehicles to ensure they are road legal and safe for anyone to use.