School Bus Driver

Education Authority; Derry/Londonderry; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Education Authority seeks a dedicated driver to transport pupils, including those with mobility needs, to and from school and authorised locations. You will assist passengers, operate lifts and ramps, and ensure wheelchairs are secured while maintaining logs and reporting concerns.

Responsibilities include safeguarding, observing schedules, and adhering to relevant safety regulations and the Education Authority’s manual.

Qualifications

• Must hold a valid driving licence and be able to operate school transport vehicles.
• Able to assist children with mobility problems in and out of vehicles.
• Maintain logs and reports and comply with safety regulations.

Responsibilities

• Transport children to and from school or authorised locations.
• Assist children in and out of the vehicle when needed.
• Operate lifts and ramps and secure wheelchairs.
• Ensure safety and good behaviour where practicable and report incidents.

Skills

Safe driving

Vehicle inspection

First aid basic

Record keeping

Education

Driving licence

Tools

Tachograph operation

Wheelchair lift operation

Job description

JOB PURPOSE

To drive any vehicle allocated in a careful, lawful manner with special reference to the persons and equipment being carried.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Transport children, including those with mobility problems or severe/moderate learning difficulties to and from school or other authorised locations.
• Assist children, including those with mobility problems in and out of the vehicle.
• Ensure the good behaviour of children on the bus where practicable and to report any behaviour incidents to the Transport Officer or such other person designated by him/her to deputise on his/her behalf.
• Operate lifts and ramps on vehicles as required and ensure that wheelchairs are properly clamped down and secured.
• Provide minor first aid to passengers and ensure that any injured child receives medical attention as quickly as possible. Complete and submit the relevant personal injury report/accident report forms to the Transport Officer without delay.
• Direct School Bus escorts where employed, in assisting with the above duties.
• Transport meals from, and return empty containers to School Meals Kitchens and assist generally at schools as required.
• Ensure, as far as possible, that scheduled timings are observed and keep a detailed record of journeys, fuel issues, oil, servicing and repair work on the vehicle log/mileage sheet.
• Carry out daily routine vehicle maintenance including checking fuel, oil and water levels, tyre pressures and topping up as required.
• Complete defect report book and submit to engineer.
• Comply with the EEC drivers’ hours and records regulations including the use of vehicle tachographs and submission of daily tachograph charts.
• Ensure the safe custody of all spare parts, tools, articles, equipment or other goods carried in the vehicle or under his/her immediate control, whether the property of the Education Authority or otherwise.
• Wash the allocated vehicle as and when necessary and ensure that the interior is kept clean and tidy.
• Comply with the provisions contained in the Education Authority’s official Drivers’ Manual.

General Conditions

• Carry out all duties to comply with:

• (a) the Health and Safety at Work (NI) order 1978;
• (b) Acts of Parliament, Statutory Instruments and Regulations and other legal requirements;
• (c) Codes of Practice.

• Carry out all duties in the working conditions normally inherent in the particular job.
• Complete all necessary paperwork.
• Carry out duties for jobs up to and including those in the same grade, provided such duties are within the competence of the employee.