Enhanced Passenger Assistant

Leeds City Council; Leeds; On-site; GBP 11,000 - 14,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Holiday entitlement

West Yorkshire Pension Fund

Flexible working

Career development

Wellbeing benefits

Job summary

Leeds City Council is seeking an Enhanced Passenger Assistant to provide a safe transport experience for vulnerable clients, including children in care and those with varying needs. The role is 16 hours per week, term-time only, on a permanent contract at Westland Road, LS11 5SB.

The successful candidate will join a large team of passenger assistants, with responsibilities for safety, conduct and wellbeing of passengers and collaboration with drivers and school staff.

Qualifications

• Good communication and the ability to work as part of a team.
• Flexible to the changing needs of the service.
• Approachable and caring attitude with passengers, families and staff.
• Understanding of health and safety responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Attend to passengers’ personal needs, hygiene, first aid and wellbeing.
• Support passengers with complex medical needs and emergency medical support.
• Assist passengers requiring additional communication support (sign language, PECS, Makaton).
• Use equipment as directed by the driver to support passengers.
• Assist passengers who require wheelchair transport.
• Monitor and manage passenger safety and wellbeing on transport.
• Support pupils to ensure health, safety and inclusion.

Skills

Good communication

Teamwork

Flexibility

Approachability

Health & safety awareness

Education

Basic numeracy & literacy

Job description

Job title: Enhanced Passenger Assistant

Salary: A2 - £24, 796 pro rata

Hours: 16 hours (Term Time Only)

Contract: Permanent

Location: Westland Road, LS11 5SB

As a passenger assistant you will provide a safe and supportive transport experience to vulnerable clients, older people, children who are in care, children and young people with varying degrees of learning, emotional and physical difficulties.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About You

• Good communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team.
• Available to work on a split shift between core hours of 7-10am and 2-5pm, 16hrs weekly
• Flexibility to the changing needs of the service
• Approachable and caring attitude offering a warm welcome to passengers, families, carers and staff
• A good understanding of your responsibilities in regard of Health and safety
• An enhanced DBS will be required
• A good level of physical ability is needed

About The Role

As our next Passenger Assistant, you will join a team that transports over 4,000 passengers to school/college or centres daily. We currently employ over 350 passenger assistants, and our team is growing due to increased demand for our service. You will be integral in supporting passengers ensuring their safety, conduct and wellbeing while on transport. You will enjoy working with people your approachability, warmth and enthusiasm will contribute positively to our passenger's day. You will need to support passengers on off transport so a good level of physical ability will be required.

What We Offer You

• We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose

Passenger transport is responsible for the provision of a safe transport service to the most vulnerable clients; older people, children who are in care and adults, children and young people with varying degrees of learning, emotional and/or physical difficulties.

Responsibilities

• To attend to the passengers’ personal needs, hygiene, first aid and wellbeing.
• To support passengers who may have complex medical needs and who may need emergency medical support.
• To communicate with passengers who require additional support with communication, including those passengers who use a mechanical system. The postholder may also be required to use British sign language, PECS cards and or Makaton.
• To use equipment as directed by the driver to support passengers.
• To support passengers who because of their physical needs may need to be transported in wheelchairs.
• To protect and distract passengers who may harm themselves or others whilst been transported.
• To supervise and support pupils ensuring their health, safety and wellbeing.
• To establish good relationships with all passengers and colleagues, acting as a role model and being aware of and responding appropriately to individual needs.
• To ensure the inclusion and acceptance of all pupils.
• To be aware of pupil problems and report any concerns to a responsible officer (parent/carer/school staff)
• To complete and provide passenger information as requested by a Supervising officer.
• As and when required to supervise a Passenger assistant on a lower grade, to ensure health, safety and welfare of passengers is met.
• To be aware of and to comply with policies relating to safeguarding, health and safety, data governance to report any concerns to a supervising officer.
• To support the council values.
• To attend and participate in relevant meetings, training and learning and development activities.
• Post-holders are required to attend a minimum of five days training per year.

Qualifications

• Basic numeracy and literacy skills.
• To be willing to undertake and complete the pass the PATS PLUS training course within six months of appointment.

Essential requirements

Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate

Behavioural And Other Characteristics Required

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all, working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.