Team: Transport

Job Family: Providing - CBG 4 and CBG 3

Salary: £20,441- £21,189 per annum pro rata or £10.60 - £10.99 per hour

Hours: 0 hours – as required by the service

Base Location: Thorn Turn Depot,

Contract Type: Permanent Relief - Fixed
Closing Date: Rolling advert 
Interview Date: TBA - Applications reviewed upon receipt

About Us: 

Central Bedfordshire is an ambitious authority, determined to be an exemplary one. Our strategic location and high quality of life mean we are one of the fastest growing areas in the country.  

As a council we face the same challenges every business does - investing in the right places and delivering great results. Except for us, it’s all about our 289,000 residents. We’re totally focussed on helping to improve their lives and making Central Bedfordshire a great place to live and work.  

We have set values and principles to represent the way we work and how we operate as an organisation. You can view a list of these in detail on our website. 

This is a great time to join us on our journey. 

More about the role:

The Fleet Department is looking for Relief Driver/ Passenger Assistants  to join our team. Relief staff provide cover for when our permanent staff are absent through holidays, sickness or other reasons. Regular work is available and in some cases, staff may be able to work up to 25 hours per week, although this is not guaranteed. Full training will be given, and we also supply uniform and allowances for equipment.

We are looking for enthusiastic and compassionate individuals to safely transport clients and pupils using council minibuses and tail lift equipped vehicles to and from various day centre, schools and other establishments as required. All staff are based at our South depot at Thorn Turn .

Our Fleet Transport team provides safe, efficient transport for a range of residents. They include older people, those with disabilities and children with special needs. The service allows these people to access educational and day care facilities – helping to make Central Bedfordshire a great place to work and live. As a Relief Driver/ Passenger Assistant, you’ll be a key part of the team.

For drivers you need a category D1 driving licence, but you don’t need previous experience to be considered for this role. However you must be prepared to provide a caring, reliable service. You need to be patient, understanding and aware of issues surrounding disability, dementia and special needs. Our aim is to deliver customers safely from door-to-door. You must be smart and professional as well as punctual and polite. Above all, you will treat your customers with respect and dignity.

You don’t need previous experience to be considered for either of these roles. However you must be prepared to provide a caring, reliable service. You need to be patient, understanding and aware of issues surrounding disability, dementia and special needs. Our aim is to deliver customers safely from door-to-door. You must be smart and professional as well as punctual and polite. Above all, you will treat your customers with respect and dignity

What we can offer you:

As well as joining a friendly, dedicated, and hardworking team you will have access to numerous benefits, including: 

• A comprehensive IT package to support you to work safely and effectively 

• Generous family friendly policies and practices 

• A welcoming and inclusive environment that empowers differences 

• Friendly and supportive staff networks  

• Annual leave allowance 24 days + statutory holidays rising to 31 days with length of service. 

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). This is a valuable part of our rewards package for employees and includes Life Assurance. You can find out more on the Bedfordshire Pension Fund website. 

• An exceptional Employee Assistance Programme which helps support employees with workplace changes as well as other work, family and personal issues 

• A huge variety of courses and role-specific training and learning to help you succeed and develop 

• Access to discounts on top UK retailers and local retailers 

Central Bedfordshire Council has its own vision and values that are integral to everything we do. Our area vision is to make Central Bedfordshire 'A great place to live and work’. 

Sustainability matters to us. We aim to lead by example in tackling climate change. Read more about the action we’re taking on our website: Climate change – tackling it and our strategy 

Our aspiration is to be a truly flexible employer.  We welcome discussion on location, hours and working pattern as part of the application process. 

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You will be expected to demonstrate how you meet the key accountabilities and competencies detailed within this Relief Passenger Assistant Recruitment Pack  

For an informal discussion about this position, please contact: Nick Firth  at Nicholas.Firth@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or call 0300 300 5560

For queries related to the recruitment of this vacancy, please contact: The Recruitment Team at recruitment@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk 

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Safeguarding:

Central Bedfordshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees, volunteers and contractors to share this commitment. This post is subject to the disclosure of criminal records.   

Central Bedfordshire Council is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to improving the diversity of our workforce to better reflect the communities we serve.  Therefore we welcome applications from everyone. In addition we are a  Disability Confident employer, we are working to become a Disability Confident leader in our community. 

To maintain a fair and consistent approach for applicants, it is Central Bedfordshire Council's policy to only consider applications made via our online application system and we therefore thank you for not submitting your application offline. 

If you require assistance to apply for our roles, help with writing your CV, interview techniques or careers advice please contact our team of careers advisors at ncs@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk Our service is confidential, impartial and free for all.