Passenger Assistant

Southampton City Council; Southampton; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A local governmental organization in Southampton is looking for a Passenger Assistant to support children during their travel to and from school. The role requires compassion, patience, and good communication skills. Ideal candidates should have experience in care/support roles and a commitment to safeguarding children. This position offers various perks including generous holiday entitlement and training opportunities.

Benefits

Generous holiday entitlement

Flexible working options

Family-friendly policies

Training and development opportunities

Health and wellbeing support

Retail discounts

Employee volunteering scheme

Qualifications

• Experience working with children or in a care/support role.
• Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
• Good physical fitness for assisting children.

Responsibilities

• Support children travelling to and from school.
• Communicate effectively with children and caregivers.
• Ensure safety and welfare of children during journeys.

Skills

Compassion

Patience

Communication

Observational skills

Flexibility

Job description

Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and families in your community? Do you have patience, empathy, a keen sense of responsibility, and experience working with children and young people? If so, we invite you to apply for the role of Passenger Assistant to support travel to and from school. This position offers an opportunity to support children and young people on their daily journey, ensuring their safety, welfare needs, and right to access education are met.

About The Role

As a Passenger Assistant, you will play an integral part in children’s morning and afternoon routines. Your primary responsibility will be to accompany and support one or more children as they travel between home and school. You will maintain good communication with children or young people, the School Travel Service office, school staff, drivers, and parents/carers regarding health, safety, and issues related to journeys undertaken.

About You

We are seeking individuals who are:

• Compassionate, patient, and genuinely enjoy working with children, with an understanding of special needs.
• Dependable and punctual, understanding the importance of routine for children and young people, ensuring the smooth running of the route.
• Clear communicators, able to interact confidently with children, young people, parents/carers, school staff, and the school travel team.
• Observant and attentive to the individual needs of each child.
• Flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances or schedules.
• Committed to safeguarding and promoting the well-being of children at all times.
• Previous experience working with children, families, or in a care/support role (formal or informal experience considered).
• Basic understanding of children’s needs and issues related to safety and well-being.
• Good physical fitness, as the role involves mobilizing self in/out of transport and assisting others.
• Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
• Two professional or character references.
• First aid training is desirable but not essential (training can be provided).

About the Children You Will Support

Our service supports children of all ages and backgrounds, including those with special educational needs or disabilities. Some children or young people may require extra assistance with mobility, social interaction, or managing anxieties related to traveling. As a Passenger Assistant, you will be matched with children or young people whose needs align with your skills and experience, ensuring a supportive and positive partnership between you, the child, and their family.

Interview Timeline

Interviews are scheduled for the week commencing 10/08/2025.

What We Can Offer You

Salary: The salary band for this role is £25,583 - £26,139 per annum (£7,429 - £7,591 pro rata). The starting salary is £25,583 (£7,429 pro rata), with annual progression through the salary bands.

We offer a range of perks and benefits, including:

• Generous holiday entitlement (25–31 days, depending on role and service)
• Flexible working options (role-dependent)
• Family-friendly policies, including maternity, paternity, adoption, shared/unpaid parental leave, and time off for dependents
• Training and development opportunities, including coaching and mentoring
• Health and wellbeing support, such as Employee Assistance Programme, Menopause Pledge, Mental Health First Aiders, and staff networks
• Veteran-friendly employer with the Armed Forces Covenant
• Retail discounts and savings via the Southampton City Council benefits platform
• Discounted memberships at local sports and fitness centres
• Sustainable travel benefits, including low emission car schemes, cycle to work, and season ticket loans
• Employee volunteering scheme with 2 paid days leave to volunteer

Contact and Further Information

For more information, please read the full job description. For questions, contact us via email or phone at 023 8083 4033. Follow us on social media for updates on our featured jobs and latest news.