Driver FAQs

 

Q. What is the permitted age for drivers with Clevedon Care?

A. You must be over 18 and under 85 years old.  

 

Q. I have committed a traffic offence. Will this exclude me from driving with Clevedon Care?

A. If you are currently legally able to drive and are fully insured, you can drive for Clevedon Care. We expect drivers to drive carefully and responsibly at all times, and to comply with the law.  

 

Q. Do I need any special insurance to drive for Clevedon Care?

A. You do not need any special insurance to drive for Clevedon Care. You should inform your car insurers and they normally make no extra charge for voluntary driving schemes. Clevedon Care has an indemnity policy which covers you when you are driving for Clevedon Care.

 

Q. I have an older car. Can I still drive for Clevedon Care? 

A. If your car has a valid MOT and is taxed and insured you can drive for Clevedon Care. Older cars may require more care and attention to keep them safe and roadworthy. You may be well advised to take out membership of a motoring recovery and breakdown service like the AA or RAC. 

 

Q. My car is quite small. Can I still drive for Clevedon Care?

A. Yes. Our drivers have vehicles of all shapes and sizes. Whilst some cars may be less suitable for driving some people to appointments, in general any car with at least 4 seats will work. 

 

Q. My car is not exempt from the Bristol Clean Air Zone. Can I still drive for Clevedon Care? 

A. We have several drivers with older cars that are not exempt the charges. Whilst we prefer drivers to have cars that are exempt, we are happy to work with drivers of older cars. Clevedon Care will try in the first instance to allocate journeys to you that do not involve entering the zone. If your car is not exempt, then there are arrangements in place at hospitals within the zone to be able to register your car which will then be exempt as a car ambulance. 

 

Q. How often will I need to drive for Clevedon Care?

A. This depends on your availability and willingness. The current average over a year is about 1 job a week. Some drivers do much more than this. A few drivers do much less. We encourage drivers to do at least 2 jobs a month minimum, and no more than 3 jobs a week on average. Except for short jobs in Clevedon, drivers are not normally asked to do more than 1 job a day.

 

Q. Will I have to drive at the weekend?

Most of the requests are for appointments during the week. We have an increasing number of requests for the weekend, for example for vaccinations, and as the NHS attempts to meet the increase in demand.

 

Q. Can I choose when I drive for Clevedon Care? 

A. Yes. You can tell the office if you are not available on particular days or if you are absent for a specific period.

 

Q. Can I choose which jobs I do?

A. This is a voluntary activity, so you choose from jobs offered based on your availability. Clevedon Care appreciates drivers who are flexible and responsive to the needs of clients.

 

Q. Can I avoid certain types of journeys?

A. Clevedon Care recognises that some drivers, perhaps as they get older, may have preferences for certain types of journeys. In general, we encourage drivers to be flexible. Given the volume of journeys we arrange and the variety of destinations, you may be asked to do a journey which may not be your first choice, but which is essential to a client. Please bear this in mind. At present we need drivers in particular to do local Clevedon jobs.

 

Q. Do I have to do the short journeys in Clevedon?

A. Yes, all drivers are expected to do journeys in Clevedon.

 

Q. How far afield will I have to travel?

A. Most journeys are local or in the Bristol/Weston Area but there is occasionally demand from clients to take them to appointments outside for example to Gloucester, Bath and Cheltenham.

 

Q. How will I be contacted about jobs?

A. The duty officers in the Clevedon Care office process client requirements and contact drivers based on their availability by phone. Please ensure we have your current mobile and telephone numbers. If they cannot reach you by phone, they will leave a message on your voicemail. Please respond as soon as possible. If the job is urgent it may be placed on the Drivers WhatsApp group.

 

Q. What do I need to know about each job?

A. You should be told the job number for insurance purposes, the client details, the destination, appointment time and any special features. You will be asked by the duty officer for a pick-up time. Please make a note of all these details. 

 

Q. Can the office text/email/WhatsApp me the details of the job?

A. Clevedon Care does not currently have the facility to do this.

 

Q. I want to contact Clevedon Care, but the main number is always engaged.

A. Please try the office mobile number 07591424358. 

 

Q. I prefer to do things face to face.

A. By all means.  Visit our offices at the YMCA, Marson Road, Clevedon during office hours and the duty officers will be pleased to see you. 

 

Q. Do I get paid for a job?

A. Yes, you volunteer your time but get the expense of driving reimbursed directly by clients. Clients will pay you a set donation calculated by Clevedon Care according to mileage. The fee for the BRI for example is always £16. Please see the Good Practice Rules for the most recent donation rates.  Clients are informed of the fee when they book and should pay you on return in cash. We encourage them to pay the correct amount, but it is good practice to keep some change available. Any sum paid above the donation, should be collected and given to the office to cover our general overheads. 

 

Q. Do I need to contact the client before the job?

A. Yes. It is good practice to contact the client by phone the day before and confirm all the arrangements.

 

Q. What happens if the client is not at home when I arrive to pick them up?

A. If the client is not there, please advise the office asap.

 

Q. Where do I park when I am waiting for a client? 

A. Advice on parking is contained in the Good Practice Rules. 

 

Q. A client has taken longer than 2 hours, what do I do?

A. Whatever the situation, we have a responsibility to the client to get them home. Before dropping off the client at the hospital/clinic emphasise that they should phone you if the appointment is going to take more than two hours or if there is likely to be a delay of more than 2 hours. You then explain that you will be going home and therefore a double journey will apply.

 

Q. A client has asked me to drive them in future-what should I do?

A. Explain to them that all bookings must be made with the duty officers in the office. This means you will be allocated a job number, thus validating your indemnity insurance. It also means that the office ensure that jobs are offered/allocated fairly across all drivers.

 

Q. What happens if I cannot do a job as agreed?

A. Please contact the office as soon as possible. If the office is closed consult the list of emergency drivers in the Good Practice Rules and ring one of them up or place a request in the Drivers WhatsApp group.

 

Q. What happens if my car breaks down whilst I am travelling for Clevedon Care?

A. You are responsible for the maintenance and recovery of your vehicle. If you have a client with you, please contact the office so that we can arrange another driver to transport the client.

 

Q. What happens if my car is involved in an accident?

A. Ensure your vehicle is in a safe place and that both the client and you are safe and unhurt. If someone has been harmed in the accident, contact the emergency services. Ensure you fulfil your statutory obligations to other road users. Quickly assess the damage and determine if the vehicle is safe to continue. If not, contact the office to arrange alternative transport for the client. Arrange for the recovery of your vehicle. Report the incident to the office as soon as possible.

 

Q. What do I do if a client feels unwell or injures themselves getting in or out of my car?

A. You will have to assess each case based on the circumstances. If you are close to the client’s home, seek assistance there. If you are at a hospital or surgery, contact them. If it is serious, call the emergency services.  If you are a qualified first aider and you have a medical kit at hand you can administer first aid as required with the consent of the client. Please notify the office as soon as possible of the incident.