Cabbies in Salford taking special needs children to school lack 'safeguarding' training and background check records

Taxi drivers paid by a council to take children with special needs to school are not being given safeguarding training - and background checks are not recorded for every driver.

Salford council provides home-to-school transport for more than 800 pupils. Some 81 taxi companies are contracted, taking youngsters to 77 schools or specialist centres.

An independent audit report - labelled ‘confidential’ - states some taxi drivers ferrying children to school are not given safeguarding training and that Disclosure and Barring Service checks are not recorded properly for every driver.

The DBS replaced Criminal Records Bureau checks, ‘preventing unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children’. The issues raised in the report were deemed ‘medium priority’.

‘High priority’ concerns were raised about the process of tendering for the services.

Auditors said the contract for ad hoc and emergency journeys was not awarded through the appropriate procurement channels.

The report states: “The results of this review enable us to provide a limited level of assurance with regard to the adequacy and operating effectiveness of the controls in place at the time of our audit.”

In 2013/14, the total cost of the service was £2.7m.

A council spokesman said: “All drivers have a police check and all passenger assistants have the necessary safeguarding training before they start working for the council.

“We are now planning to invite all drivers to safeguarding training and from 2016 a working knowledge of safeguarding will be an essential requirement.”

The council says findings regarding DBS records have been ‘rectified’, adding: “This was a recording issue as all drivers are required to have DBS to apply for the contracts.”

The concerns come ahead of a move to ‘train’ some children with special needs currently provided with assisted transport to travel alone to school. It could save the town hall £120,000.

Council bosses insist only children capable of travelling alone on public transport will be ‘taught’ to do so when it is considered the ‘right thing for them’.

The city’s Conservative group opposed the cut when it was announced earlier this year, removing it from its alternative budget.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/cabbies-salford-taking-special-needs-9556757
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