Transport Controller / Planner

EMED Group; Leicester; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance

Company sick pay

Pension scheme

GP access & health services

EAP (Employee Assistance Programme)

Uniform provided

Flu vaccination campaign

Job summary

EMED Group is seeking a Controller/Planner based in Thurmaston, Leicester to plan and control high-volume, time-critical transport operations for patient journeys. You will schedule bookings to meet KPIs, allocate crew and vehicles, and coordinate with hospital staff to optimise resources and ensure on-time arrivals and efficient return journeys.

The role involves 12-hour shifts (4 on, 4 off). We offer extensive benefits including life assurance, pension, health and wellbeing support, and

Qualifications

• Experience in a regulated, time-critical operational environment.
• Desirable experience in logistics, control, or route planning.
• Experience working to KPIs and service level targets.

Responsibilities

• Check and plan daily and future bookings within the Cleric controlling system, ensuring resources are correct.
• Dispatch and manage operational crews to ensure timely collection and delivery of patients.
• Allocate patients to appropriate vehicle type and crew based on mobility and safety needs.
• Receive and handle requests for patient transport and queries regarding journeys.
• Maintain accurate patient records and ensure good housekeeping within the system.
• Liaise with hospitals, GPs, nursing homes and wards to optimise utilisation and KPI performance.

Skills

Route planning

Time management

Analytical thinking

Communication

Tools

Cleric controlling system

Job description

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Controller/Planner to join our team based in Thurmaston, Leicester.

We are looking for organised, analytical individuals with a passion for route planning and logistics. As a Controller/Planner, you will plan and control a high-volume, time-critical transport operation, scheduling booked journeys to meet time-bound KPIs (including on-time arrivals, turnaround/collection times and timely return home).

The role involves efficiently managing Patient Transport Service (PTS) resources to meet the needs of booked patient journeys, allocating patients to the appropriate vehicle type and the appropriately skilled crew (based on mobility/clinical and safety requirements), as well as collaborating with hospital staff and departments to optimise vehicle and staff utilisation and protect KPI performance throughout the day.

Shifts available

• 4 on, 4 off rota (12 hour shifts)

Please only apply if you can commit to this shift pattern.

Some of the benefits can you expect

• Life Assurance – providing colleagues and their family financial peace of mind and protection to the value of £5,000.
• Company sick pay covering full salary for 20 days after 2 years’ service.
• 24/7 online/telephone GP Consultation and access to prescriptions.
• 2nd opinion medical support following diagnosis or where a colleague is on a treatment pathway.
• Hospital cash plan benefits with sickness protection scheme.
• Cash-plan benefits, providing colleagues the option of protecting themselves in case of illness and recuperation, including dental, optical, chiropody.
• Access to mental health consultations.
• Access to physiotherapy consultations.
• Access to legal advice on domestic issues e.g. motoring offences, wills and probate, and personal injury.
• Financial guidance re retirement planning, tax savings and state benefits.
• Long Service Recognition Scheme – recognising colleagues for their continued service after 5 years and at 5-year intervals with an increase in annual leave.
• Values-based Internal Recognition Scheme with financial reward, which will lead to an annual recognition event.
• Refer a Friend recruitment incentive scheme with financial rewards.
• The EMED foundation, to provide support to colleagues and our local communities.
• Pension Scheme.
• Blue Light Card.
• Uniform provided.
• EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) to support a range of health and wellbeing requirements.
• Flu vaccination (through an internal campaign in Autumn/Winter).

Main Duties

• Check and plan daily and future bookings within the Cleric controlling system, ensuring resourcing is correct and all sub-contractor, taxi and volunteers are informed where applicable and that each journey is scheduled within contracted time windows.
• The main focus of the role will be the dispatch and management of the operational crews to ensure timely and efficient collection and delivery of patients between destinations and achieving contractual targets including on-time arrivals for appointments and return journeys within agreed times. You will match demand to capacity in real time, allocating the right vehicle and the right crew skill mix to each patient journey.
• To receive in an accurate, effective and polite manner, requests for patient transport and queries regarding ambulance journeys, ensuring compliance with relevant service procedures and standing orders.
• Undertake general clerical duties including but not exclusive checking booking lists, data input, completing ad-hoc forms/invoices as necessary.
• Maintain accurate and up to date patient records. Ensure good housekeeping within the main operating system.
• Maintaining and enhancing the performance and quality of service offered to patients and customers.
• Dealing promptly, professionally, and efficiently with all internal and external telephone calls received, taking appropriate action using your own initiative where required.
• Liaising with other agencies such as GPs, Nursing Homes, Hospital Clinics and Wards.
• Maintain end-to-end journey flow across all control areas through effective liaison with colleagues and site stakeholders, prioritising work and resolving urgent issues as they arise (e.g. late running, cancellations, vehicle issues and capacity constraints), using dynamic re-planning, rapid reallocation of resources and escalation in line with local procedures to minimise KPI impact.

Successful candidates will have

• Experience of working in a regulated, complex, time-critical operational environment.
• Desirable experience of working in logistics, control, route planning or analytical roles.
• Desirable experience working to time-critical KPIs/service level targets and using operational systems to monitor performance, prioritise work and take corrective action.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills gained from experience of dealing with customers or members of the public.

• Commitment to delivering a high-quality, customer-focused service.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with proven ability to engage at all levels within an organisation.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent organisational skills with proven ability to multi-task and prioritise as required.
• Ability to stay calm under pressure and use initiative.

About Us

The exciting merger of ERS Medical and E-Zec Medical has enabled us to rebrand, therefore as a combined business we are now known as EMED Group. We are the largest Patient Transport and Care Partner to the NHS with circa 4,000 colleagues across 60 depots. Our ambition is to continue developing patient care transport services that improve the health and wellbeing for people across our local communities by providing transport that supports patient care, community support, secure mental health and medical courier services.

EMED Group are committed to providing services for our patients, service users, clients, and community and is supported by employees with an increasing variety of backgrounds. To do this effectively it is essential that we promote equality and embrace diversity and inclusion and treat all of our employees, patients, service users and clients with dignity and respect.

EMED Group is committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination, with our aim being to be truly representative of all sections of society and our clients, and for each employee to feel respected, valued and able to give their best.

EMED Group are committed to providing equal opportunities and we endeavour to provide an inclusive and safe working culture for all.