Passenger Assistant

West Sussex County Council; Worthing; On-site; GBP 15,000 - 19,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Training and development opportunities

Discounts at local retailers

Commuting and travel discounts

Job summary

West Sussex County Council is seeking a Passenger Assistant to help transport vulnerable children and adults to schools and other venues in minibuses, cars and taxis, with a focus on safety and care.

You will work term-time only, receive annual pay distributed in twelve monthly instalments, and play a key role in safeguarding while providing a friendly, reassuring presence on journeys. The role supports a collaborative transport team within West Sussex.

Qualifications

• Caring and respectful approach with vulnerable passengers.
• Ability to follow safeguarding procedures and instructions.
• DBS check and health references required.

Responsibilities

• Transport passengers safely between school and destinations.
• Ensure passengers are properly seated and belted.
• Assist with boarding and alighting in a safe manner.
• Work with drivers and other staff to secure equipment (wheelchairs, boosters).
• Communicate with schools and parents about wellbeing as needed.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Safety awareness

Caring and professional

Teamwork

Problem solving

Job description

As part of our team, you will enable vulnerable people to achieve the best possible personal outcomes. You will do this by providing a reliable and consistent, safe transport service. We're looking for people with an outward looking, caring and professional approach. The ideal person will naturally go above and beyond; acknowledging that our passengers value a friendly face and someone who is thoughtful and considerate. What is term time only working? A term time only contract is for our staff who are employed to work only during periods when schools are open. Your pay is calculated on an annual basis and then you are paid over twelve equal monthly instalments. You make a real difference to children and families with a strong sense of public service. This will be a varied role where no two days are the same. You will work in a collaborative and supportive working environment. If this sounds like a role that fits with your experience and knowledge, then we want to hear more from you!

About you

As a Passenger Assistant, you will travel to and from schools and other venues, in minibuses, cars and taxis. You will ensure the safe transport of vulnerable adults and school children with special needs. You will provide a safe, secure and happy environment for passengers, while in transit between destinations. You will also ensure that the passengers safely board and alight from the vehicles and that they are delivered to their venue in a safe way. Your day-to-day tasks will include:

• Interpreting situations and events as they arise to solve straightforward problems concerning the wellbeing of the passenger or smooth running of the journey.
• Fastening seat belts.
• Attaching booster seats and ensure that passengers are properly seated.
• Working in conjunction with the driver and any other passenger assistants in the vehicle.
• Ensuring that all equipment, such as wheelchairs, are carefully stowed and secured when in transit.
• Working collaboratively and convey messages between the school and the pupil's parents about their health and wellbeing.

The Transport Provision Team provides specialist transport for people with special needs, using its own fleet of vehicles, many of which are fully accessible. The Transport Provision Team covers the whole of West Sussex and operates out of three bases in Chichester, Horsham and Worthing.

For more information on the service, please visit our dedicated webpage for all things schools transport recruitment .

Further information The reference number for this role is EIE01267. For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please visit our featured School transport jobs site.

EC Available documents

The Transport Provision Team is part of the Transport Co-ordination Department. The team plans and provides passenger transport solutions. These services are provided to eligible children and allows them to get to school which supports the bus network providing millions of bus journeys each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check, 5 years of satisfactory references and health check.

Equity, inclusion, accessibility and diversity is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all cultures, ethnicities, identities, backgrounds and lived experiences, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our page.

Rewards and Benefits

Our values and support for one another is intrinsic to everything we do and will be a key priority within the assessment for this post. We care hugely about wellbeing, allowing time for a good laugh, and developing our team to be the best they can be. Alongside this, we also offer the below benefits.

• Competitive pay.
• Training and development opportunities, including coaching and mentoring.
• A range of discounts (Including Samsung, Argos, Wickes, TUI, Deliveroo and Asos).
• Discounted membership at selected local sports and fitness centres.
• A range of commuting and business travel discount and initiatives.