Passenger Assistant

Hertfordshire; Farnham, Stevenage; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Part time

Job summary

Hertfordshire County Council in Stevenage is hiring a Passenger Assistant to support pupils with Special Educational Needs on school transport. This permanent role offers 17.5 hours per week with a starting salary of £26,016 rising to £26,427 per year, pro rata for part-time staff.

You will work as part of a two-person crew, help pupils board and alight, assist with wheelchairs, and follow safeguarding and reporting procedures to keep journeys safe and reliable.

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to interact for clients from a variety of backgrounds including children, parents, and school staff.
• Ability to follow care instructions as delivered and provide updates when requested.
• Basic reporting and documentation skills ability for compiling required reports.
• Ability to assist clients on and off the buses and be able to manage bus steps, doors, straps, and harnesses.

Responsibilities

• Assisting in the transport of children and young adults in a safe, caring manner, ensuring their welfare is prioritised.
• Providing care duties associated with transport services. For example, assisting passengers to prepare for their journey; on or off the vehicle; and ensuring passengers are safe and comfortable when they are on the vehicle.
• Working as part of a team in the delivery of the service.
• Operating the vehicle tailgate-lift during the boarding and alighting of passengers in wheelchairs following appropriate training.
• Ensuring the safe application of wheelchair clamps and straps and other specialist equipment.
• Ensuring that all communication issued by the service is followed and adhered to.
• Complete records as required by team procedures.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Follow care instructions

Reporting & documentation

Assist clients on/off buses

Proximity to planned routes

Background in SEN

Job description

£26,016 progressing to £26,427 per annum (pro rata for part time)

Working Hours:

17.5

Location:

Countywide

Closing Date:

06/11/2026

Job Category:

Drivers

Region / Division:

Hertfordshire

Job Introduction

Job Title: Passenger Assistant
Starting Salary: £26,016 progressing to £26,427 per annum (pro rata for part time)
Hours:17.5 hours per week (3.5 hours split shift per day)

7:45 am - 9:30 am (1 hour 45 minutes) and
14:45 pm - 15:30 pm (1 hour 45 minutes)

Location: Based in Stevenage for training purposes. Routes cover transport to Amwell View or Tonwell School
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate:Growth & Environment

About the team

This role plays a vital role in helping children and young people withSpecial Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), access education safely and reliably.
We work closely with schools, families and specialist services to make sure every pupil receives the support they require during their journey to and from school.

As a Passenger Assistant, you’ll be part of a friendly, dedicated group who share a commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and providing a calm, supportive environment from the moment pupils step on board.

About the role

Duties include:

• Assisting in the transport of children and young adults in a safe, caring manner, ensuring their welfare is prioritised
• Providing care duties associated with transport services. For example, assisting passengers to prepare for their journey; on or off the vehicle; and ensuring passengers are safe and comfortable when they are on the vehicle
• Working as part of a team in the delivery of the service
• Operating the vehicle tailgate-lift during the boarding and alighting of passengers in wheelchairs following appropriate training
• Ensuring the safe application of wheelchair clamps and straps and other specialist equipment
• Ensuring that all communication issued by the service is followed and adhered to
• Complete records as required by team procedures

Passenger Assistants will be aware of delivering support for any special needs of the children on board the vehicle and be able to react to requests and incidents by following the child’s risk assessment or reporting upward to senior staff. Full training will be provided in order for Passenger Assistants to deliver specific care requirements.

Reporting to the Senior Transport Co-ordinator, the Passenger Assistant will work with the Driver of the vehicle as part of a two-person crew.

About you

We are looking for caring, compassionate, and professional individuals who can provide a friendly and consistent service with the following qualities and skills:

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to interact for clients from a variety of backgrounds including children, parents, and school staff
• Ability to follow care instructions as delivered and provide updates when requested
• Basic reporting and documentation skills ability for compiling required reports
• Ability to assist clients on and off the buses and be able to manage bus steps, doors, straps, and harnesses
• Additionally, the selection process will look at proximity to the planned routes. Please state your location clearly in your application form.
• Background in working with children with SEN

English Fluency

The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.

We reserve the right to close the advert early should application volumes exceed capacity. Please submit your application in a timely manner to ensure it is reviewed.

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is Level 4. Please locate the job profile here:

Interview Date

Interviews arranged on a rolling basis

Additional information

We are changing Hertfordshire County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), creating a unique opportunity to help shape the future of local services. To find out more, visit https://www.hertfordshire-lgr.co.uk/

Disability Confident

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Safeguarding

This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.