Contingency Driver – 30 Hours Per Week – Term Time – Essex

Kinect Services; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Joining bonus

Term-time-only working

Full induction and ongoing training

Support from Operations Team

Opportunity to develop within growing,

Job summary

Kinect Services in Essex is seeking contingency drivers to provide safe, reliable transport for children and vulnerable adults across our local authority contracts. This role is not a fixed daily route; you will be deployed on short notice to cover absences and disruptions.

You will work up to 30 hours per week during term-time, with eligibility for a joining bonus if you already hold a relevant local authority licence. A full DBS check is required or willingness to complete.

Qualifications

• Must hold a full UK driving licence and be eligible to drive school transport.
• Enhanced DBS check completed or willingness to obtain.
• Term-time-only availability and flexible deployment are essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide safe and reliable transport for children and vulnerable adults.
• Cover planned and unplanned driver absences.
• Drive different routes across the operational area.
• Respond to frequent and short-notice changes calmly.
• Work closely with Operations Team and follow updated instructions.
• Maintain high safeguarding, professionalism and punctuality.
• Complete vehicle checks and meet company compliance.
• Travel within allocated area and use company systems for routes.

Skills

Full UK driving licence

Calm under pressure

Excellent communication

Reliability and punctuality

Job description

Pre-licensed Driver Joining Bonus Available

Be the driver who keeps our services moving when plans change

Location: Essex (Maldon, Harlow, Chelmsford, Brentwood) – travel across the surrounding operational area will be required
Hours:30 hours per week, term-time only
Pay:£12.71 per hour, plus mileage where applicable
Joining bonus:Available to eligible candidates who already hold a current and relevant local authority driver licence. Eligibility criteria and terms apply.

About Kinect Services

Kinect Services is a leading specialist passenger transport provider, for children and vulnerable adults across several local authority contracts.

Every day, we help people access education, healthcare and vital community services safely, reliably and with dignity.

We are expanding our specialist contingency team and are looking for professional and dependable drivers who genuinely enjoy variety and can remain calm when circumstances change.

Please read this before applying

This is not a traditional school transport role where you will necessarily drive the same route every day.

Contingency Drivers provide essential cover across our network. Your route, working location or daily assignment may change frequently and sometimes at very short notice, including on the morning of service.

You may be asked to move from a regular route to provide cover elsewhere or remain available for immediate deployment when an unexpected absence or service disruption occurs.

This role will suit someone who is genuinely flexible, adaptable and comfortable working without a completely predictable daily routine.

About the role

Depending on operational requirements, you may:

Remain available to respond immediately to short-notice cover requirements; or

Operate an allocated route while remaining available to move onto another route when contingency cover is required.

Both arrangements form part of the same specialist Bridging Team, and your deployment may change throughout the year.

Last-minute changes can sometimes cause anxiety or frustration for passengers, parents and next of kin. As the person representing Kinect at the point of service, you will need to communicate calmly and sensitively, manage challenging conversations professionally and elevate concerns appropriately.

What you will be doing

• Providing safe and reliable transport for children and vulnerable adults.
• Covering planned and unplanned driver absences.
• Driving different routes across your allocated operational area.
• Responding positively to frequent and short-notice changes.
• Working closely with our Operations Team and following updated instructions.
• Providing excellent service to passengers, families, schools and local authorities.
• Responding calmly and professionally to concerns or challenging conversations.
• Completing vehicle checks and meeting company compliance requirements.
• Using company systems to receive route information and updates.
• Maintaining the highest standards of safeguarding, professionalism and punctuality.
• Completing operational visits or audit reviews where required.

We are looking for someone who is:

• Exceptionally flexible and adaptable.
• Calm and resilient under pressure.
• Able to de-escalate difficult or emotionally charged conversations.
• Empathetic, professional and an excellent communicator.
• Reliable, dependable and punctual.
• Confident driving different routes and in unfamiliar areas.
• Comfortable using smartphones and digital systems.
• Able to follow changing instructions accurately.
• A full UK driving licence.

An Enhanced DBS, or willingness to complete the required checks.

• Availability to start from 6.30 am during term time.
• Willingness to travel within the allocated operational area.
• A clear understanding that frequent and last-minute changes are a fundamental part of the role.

Experience in school transport, community transport, care, taxi, PSV or passenger transport would be beneficial but is not essential. Full induction and ongoing training will be provided.

What we offer

• Term-time-only working.

Full induction and ongoing training.

• Support from an experienced Operations Team.
• Opportunities to develop within a growing specialist transport provider.
• A joining bonus for eligible drivers who already hold a relevant local authority licence.

Our Contingency Drivers are among the most valued members of our transport team. When circumstances unexpectedly change, you help ensure that children and vulnerable adults can still travel safely and reliably.