Independent Mobility AssessmentsSharing the experience and preparing for

change

Coventry City Council Enablement and Therapy Services Blue Badge Centre of ExcellenceFrances Kendall – Team lead

Blue Badge Centre of Excellence

Blue Badge Comprehensive Reform Strategy Published in October 2008 by Dept for Transport

Centres of excellence were established after submission of detailed action plans

In total 8 LA were awarded the Centres of Excellence status

Coventry was awarded the status jointly with Birmingham after a successful bid

Centres of ExcellenceDeveloped to:

•Improve the management of the current scheme

•Share good practice

Coventry City Council:

•Deliver a joint approach with Birmingham

•Improve assessment process

•Establish an Enforcement Strategy

Assessment for Blue Badge

Aim

•Consistent approach to assessment

•Develop assessment tools within the

process

Action

•Create robust assessment

and screening tools

•Standardised clinical assessment process

Consultation

• Attended local Councillor ward forums• Questionnaire to a proportion of current badge

holders• Attended local festivals and events to distribute

awareness questionnaire and raise the Blue Badge profile

• Attended service user groups• Qualitative research study with service users and

Blue Badge team

Achievements•Standardised the assessment process

•New improved application form introduced, based on the model form suggested by Dept for Transport.

•Created and developed a mobility assessment tool

•Developed a desk based assessment process

•Designed a desk based assessment tool

Achievements continued

• Consistent process of assessment

• Reduction of badges in issue

• Designated OT mobility assessor

• Now responsible for Centro concessionary bus pass assessments

• Raised Blue Badge profile within the city

• Formalised review process in place

Blue Badge Assessment Process

Initial Contact & Applications

• Contact centre provide advice on eligibility and issue application forms. New helpline was introduced on 1st January 2012 to give advice and direct applicants to online application or relevant local authority

• Application form, eligibility information and links to DfT are available from Coventry City Council website.

• Applications are returned to Blue Badge administration team• Applicants who are eligible “without further assessment” are

processed and badges issued accordingly• Applicants who are “subject to further assessment” are

forwarded to The Opal for screening by an independent mobility assessor

Applications subject to further assessment

• Mobility assessor carries out desk based assessment using the screening tool. Further information may be required during this process

• Decision is made to award, decline or invite for an independent mobility assessment

• Appointment letter sent to applicant• Applications are recorded in categories i.e. new,

reapplication, child under 3, upper-limb disability, organisational, unable and virtually unable to walk

Independent mobility assessment

• IMA carried out at The Opal• Approximately 15 assessments per week• 45 minutes in length• Decision made to award or decline at the time of

assessment, if possible and appropriate• Figures entered on spread sheet throughout the

process• Paperwork returned to Blue Badge administration

team for issue of badge via BBIS

Further Developments

• Involvement of the Blue Badge admin staff to screen applications at desk based stage using the scoring matrix

• New promoting independence social care assessment form includes information on outdoor mobility

• awareness training for all social care staff• Development of the mobility assessor role with a

dedicated mobility assessor (physiotherapist) now in post