MiDAS membership number
Dear MiDAS Member,
Thank you for returning your MiDAS Membership Application Form. We are delighted that
you have chosen to adopt this scheme and thereby promote our national standards for
assessment and training of minibus drivers.
Your MiDAS membership number is:
M 114828
Please quote this in all future correspondence concerning MiDAS.
Note – this does not qualify you as a CTA member, if you are not already a member of the
CTA and would like further information, please visit our website www.ctauk.org or contact
our office for a full list of CTA Membership benefits such as CTA Insurance.
If you have chosen to appoint a Driver Assessor Trainer (DAT), the next stage in the
MiDAS process is to arrange for this person to complete the DAT’s training course. Details
of Training Agents currently offering this course are on our website, most training agents
travel around the country and will be pleased to advise you of the cost and availability of
training in your area. Please contact Agents directly.
You will find enclosed an Endorsement by Referee form. It is important that this form is
completed for your DAT and passed to your chosen Training Agent prior to attending a
course. Also enclosed is a Job Description and Person Specification for a DAT, please
ensure that you read these carefully before selecting your candidate for the DAT course.
If you have chosen to arrange for a third party to assess and train your drivers, the next
stage is to contact an existing DAT. The DATs are fairly well spread across the UK and we
can provide you with a list by email, by county, on request.
If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Yours faithfully
MiDAS Administrator
Enc:
Driver Assessor Trainer Endorsement by Referee
To: Proposed Driver Assessor Trainer
Prior to attending a MiDAS course, you will need to identify a referee who can confirm that you are
a suitable candidate to attend the MiDAS training courses. The referee should be one of the
following:



If you are a paid member of staff, your line manager (which may include that Chair of you
Management Committee/Governors, etc. if you are the senior paid employee).
If you are a volunteer in an organisation with paid employees, a paid member of staff with
your organisation who knows you well.
If you are a volunteer in an organisation with no paid employees, an Honorary Officer within
your organisation who knows you well.
Please give your referee this sheet and ask them to return it to you. You will then need to ensure
that this form is passed to your Training Agent prior to commencement of the course.
To: Referee
Further information about MiDAS is available on the website, www.communitytransport.com or
contact the CTA. The nominated Driver Assessor Trainer will be the person who attends all the
MiDAS training courses and assess the competence to drive of new and existing minibus drivers
within their organisation. They will also be responsible for training drivers, using standard training
materials provided by MiDAS.
The nominated Driver Trainer will need to have:



Good driving skills, which will be assessed to MiDAS standards prior to attendance at the
training courses; referees therefore do not have to vouch for driving standards.
The ability to pass on to others information and skills learnt during the MiDAS training
sessions. This will be undertaken either in a group or one-to-one basis and which may
involve the use of training aids such as overhead projector acetates. Driver
Assessor/Trainers must have the ability to put across points clearly and concisely.
The time and willingness to undertake this responsible role.
Declaration by Referee to Community Transport Association,
Organisers if MiDAS
I have read the above information and can confirm that _____________________________
Is a suitable candidate to attend MiDAS Driver Assessor/Trainer training.
Signature
__________________________
Your Name
__________________________
Position
__________________________
Date
__________________________
Our organisation has recently joined MiDAS.
How do we decide who should attend the
Driver Assessor Trainer’s course?
The role of Driver Assessor Trainer (DAT) is a very responsible one, which as the name
suggests, calls for a combination of skills. While good minibus driving skills are essential it
is equally important that you choose someone with a proven ability to pass on to others the
benefit of their learning.
The checklist below lists the skills and qualifications anyone wishing to enrol onto a MiDAS
DAT’s course should have.
The induction course to become a MiDAS DAT does not train people how to train others. It
shows people who already have the ability to train others how to set up and run the MiDAS
programme for minibus drivers.
To successfully complete the course a candidate must attend a number of training
sessions and pass three* assessments; a driving assessment, a theory assessment and
an assessment of their ability to train others.
Once qualified it is vital that your DAT is given the time and resources to run the MiDAS
system of driver assessments and training. This could take anything from a few hours a
month up to a full time post depending on the numbers of drivers.
We have divided the skills and qualifications needed by the person you nominate to
become your organisation’s DAT into two categories; essential and desirable.
* Candidates who will be training drivers of accessible minibuses will be required to
undertake an additional practical skills assessment.
Category
Requirements
General
An awareness of equal opportunities issues in transport
and training
Commitment to incorporate equal opportunities
strategies when delivering training
Willingness to support the MiDAS approach to minibus
safety
Driving
Experience
Ability to communicate effectively with people from
different cultural and economic backgrounds
Current driving licence with minibus entitlement
Recent minibus or large vehicle driving experience
Meet the requirements of your minibus insurers
Tested PCV (D or D1) licence holder
MiDAS minibus driver certificate holder
Assessing
and Training
Skills
RoSPA or IAM minibus driver certificate holder
Ability to assess competence against given criteria
Ability to prepare short training courses from given
resources
Ability to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the
training delivered
Ability to deliver short training courses to groups and
individuals from diverse background
Ability to effectively demonstrate use of equipment
Experience of assessing and/or training passenger
vehicle drivers
Knowledge of minibus legislation
Knowledge of health and safety legislation
Recognise unsafe practice
Disability
Awareness
(for those
wishing to
train drivers
who work
with disabled
people)
Knowledge of minibus passenger safety issues for
disabled people
Working with disabled people
Experience of providing a transport service for disabled
people
Essential
Desirable