About The Job
Salary: £25,989 – £26,824 a year pro rata
Hours per week: 27.5
Contract type: Permanent
As a Driver Assistant within the Passenger Transport Team (PTU), you’ll play a vital role in delivering this service. You’ll be responsible for the safe transportation of children and vulnerable adults, driving a range of vehicles and assisting passengers on designated routes. Your work will ensure that every journey is completed safely, comfortably, and with care.
This is a rewarding opportunity for someone who enjoys driving, working with people, and making a difference in their community.
Key Responsibilities
- Safely transport passengers, including children and vulnerable adults, to and from schools, day centres, and other establishments.
- Carry out daily vehicle checks, refuelling, and cleaning of the vehicle’s interior and exterior to ensure safety and hygiene standards are maintained.
- Ensure passengers are safely assisted on and off the vehicle, using specialist equipment as required.
- Communicate courteously and clearly with parents, carers, colleagues, and passengers.
- Exercise initiative and sound judgement in emergency situations, such as vehicle breakdowns or passenger illness.
- Adapt to changes in schedule and work hours to accommodate service needs or delays.
- Maintain accurate records in line with Council procedures and statutory requirements.
- Promote equality, inclusion, and respect for all service users.
Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.
About You
You’ll be a responsible and caring individual who takes pride in providing excellent service and ensuring the safety and comfort of all passengers. You’ll have experience of driving vehicles larger than cars and working with the public, demonstrating patience, empathy, and professionalism at all times.
Essential Skills, Knowledge & Experience
- Full, current Category D1 driving licence and successful completion of an independent driving assessment.
- Experience of driving vehicles larger than cars.
- Experience of working with people or the general public.
- Ability to communicate clearly, tactfully, and politely with a wide range of people.
- Good knowledge of daily vehicle checks, basic maintenance, and traffic regulations.
- Ability to act appropriately and use initiative in emergencies.
- Physically able to undertake heavy lifting when required.
- Flexibility to adjust working hours to meet service demands.
- Awareness of equality and diversity, and ability to recognise forms of discrimination.
- Must be over 23 years old (for insurance purposes).
Training & Development
You’ll be required and supported to attend regular training as part of your role, including but not limited to:
- Safeguarding Adults & Children
- Autism and Dementia Awareness
- First Aid
- GDPR and Data Protection
- Contextual Safeguarding, FGM & Radicalisation
- MiDAS (Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme)
- PATS (Passenger Assistant Training Scheme)
- Any other training deemed necessary to deliver the service safely and effectively
Benefits
- Competitive salary and benefits package.
- Regular, high‑quality training and professional development.
- Supportive and friendly team environment.
- Opportunities to contribute to your local community.
- 25 to 32 days’ annual leave, linked to length of service and grade.
- Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave.
- Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area.
- Pension scheme: generous employer contributions of up to 20.2 % (at July 2023) and 3× salary death‑in‑service grant.
- Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility).
- Employee Assistance Programme: free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support for employees and certain dependents.
- Work/life balance: flexible working options, including working from home where possible, part‑time hours and alternative patterns.
- Unlimited access to development courses, mentoring, and support.
- Discounts on MOT, gym, fitness, restaurants and salons.
- Arriva Travel Club: value savings on local bus travel.
We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our borough.
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