Passenger Assistant (Term Time)

Luton Borough Council; Luton; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Luton seeks a Passenger Assistant to support vulnerable individuals during their journeys. This role involves providing onboard care, ensuring safety, and communicating effectively. Ideal candidates are caring, reliable, and committed to safeguarding others. The position offers continuous training and development, flexible working options, and a supportive team environment.

Benefits

25 to 32 days' annual leave

Employee Assistance Programme

Flexible working options

Unlimited access to development courses

Generous pension scheme

Discounts on services

Qualifications

• Previous experience working in a caring or public-facing role is highly desirable.
• Ability to undertake physical aspects of the role, including assisting passengers with mobility needs.

Responsibilities

• Provide onboard care and supervision for vulnerable passengers.
• Assist passengers safely boarding and leaving vehicles.
• Communicate clearly with parents and colleagues to ensure safety.
• Respond to emergencies while prioritizing passenger safety.
• Work flexibly to accommodate journey changes.

Skills

Effective communication

Caring and reliable

Teamwork

Understanding of equality and diversity

Job description

About The Job

Salary: £25,989 – £26,824 a year pro rata
Hours per week: 25
Contract type: Permanent

At Luton Council, we have a statutory duty to ensure that eligible residents are provided with safe, reliable, and suitable travel arrangements. Our Passenger Transport Team (PTU) plays a vital role in delivering this essential service to some of the most vulnerable people in our community. As a Passenger Assistant, you’ll be at the heart of this operation — ensuring passengers are supported, comfortable, and cared for during their journeys between home, school, or other designated sites. This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference every day.

What You’ll Do

• Provide onboard care and supervision for passengers, including children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
• Assist passengers in safely boarding and leaving vehicles, using appropriate equipment and lifting aids where necessary (training provided).
• Communicate clearly and compassionately with parents, carers, colleagues, and passengers to ensure smooth and safe journeys.
• Respond appropriately and calmly to emergencies, using your initiative to ensure passenger safety.
• Work flexibly to accommodate journey delays or changes in transport schedules.

Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.

About You

We’re looking for someone who is caring, reliable, and committed to safeguarding others. You’ll be able to:

• Communicate effectively and courteously with the public, including young and elderly passengers.
• Demonstrate understanding of equality and diversity, recognising and challenging discrimination where appropriate.
• Work well independently and as part of a team, maintaining professionalism in all interactions.
• Undertake physical aspects of the role, including assisting passengers with mobility needs (following training).

Previous experience working with people or within a caring/public-facing role is highly desirable.

Training & Development

Role: Luton Council is committed to continuous learning and development. As part of your role, you’ll receive regular training in key areas, including:

• Safeguarding Adults & Children
• Dementia Awareness
• Autism Awareness
• First Aid
• Contextual Safeguarding, FGM & Radicalisation
• GDPR
• Passenger Assistant Training Scheme (PATS)
• And any additional training relevant to the service

Why Work for Us?

Joining Luton Council Means Being Part Of a Supportive Team That Truly Values The Contribution You Make To The Community. You’ll Enjoy:

• A rewarding role with real purpose
• Ongoing professional development
• Inclusive and supportive working environment

Benefits

• From 25 to 32 days' annual leave: linked to length of service and grade
• Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave
• Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area
• Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 20.2 per cent (at July 2023) and 3x salary death in service grant
• Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility)
• Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home
• Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements including part-time hours and alternative working patterns
• Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways
• Staff offers: includes discounts on your MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons
• Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel

Application Process

Because of the nature of this job, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare all unspent cautions and convictions; and also any adult cautions (simple or conditional), and spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020). A person’s criminal record will not in itself prevent a person from being appointed to this post. Applicants will not be refused posts because of offences which are not relevant to, and do not place them at or make them a risk in, the role for which they are applying. However in the event of the employment being taken up, any failure to disclose such offence, as detailed above, will result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the Authority.

On occasions, we may close a vacancy early due to a very high number of applications being received.

How To Apply

We understand that job applications take time and effort, but a high-quality application shows that you are professional with a good attention to detail. The recruiting manager may receive a number of applications for each job advertised so you want yours to stand out!

Our ‘How to apply' page has more tips to help with your application: How to apply

About Us

Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision – that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty – is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents.

The people of Luton depend heavily on this council – and that means our workforce! Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision?

We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our borough.