Passenger Transport Driver

Our Values

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.

Our Values are:

• Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
• Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
• Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
• Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
• Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
• Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.

About the team we are recruiting to

We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, is accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias.

Special Needs Transport (SNT) Coventry is responsible for delivering transport services to approximately 700 passengers daily amounting to approximately 280,000 trips each year.  

As a result our customers are able to access and take part in the following wide range of services and activities:

• Social care transport for adults with learning difficulties and older people to day care and/or learning opportunities
• Education and learning, home to school transport for children and young people with special educational needs and/or physical and/or sensory impairments
• Transport to school, contact or medical appointments for children who are looked after by the authority
• Health related services including the provision of clean linen to residential homes and people cared for in their own homes; and 
• Employment related services

SNT employs approximately 180 people equating to 130 full time equivalent roles, operates a fleet of over 70 passenger carrying vehicles, and has a trading turnover of over £5 million per annum, the majority of which is used to commission transport from taxis and external transport providers.

The positions being recruited to are on a split shift basis and there will be a need for successful candidates to work in the morning and afternoon with a break in between.

What is the job role?

The job involves providing a high level of service to the citizens of Coventry who require transportation to and from schools, daycare centres for older people, colleges and centres for citizens with learning difficulties. This can involve handling large wheelchairs and loading them on and off the vehicle securing the wheelchair on the vehicle and dealing with any other situation that might arise on the vehicle. 

Continuity is a vital part of the service we provide and we endeavour to keep the same driver and escort on the vehicle as much as is reasonably practicable.  In summary, the role involves the following tasks:

• Undertake all driving duties in allocated vehicles as instructed by a Supervisor.
• Pick up clients and transport them to their point of destination using the vehicle in a safe manner at all times.
• Take all reasonable steps to prevent clients from causing harm to themselves and/or others.
• Carry out daily vehicle checks before start of journey and report all defects to Workshops for action.  
• Complete all paperwork as requested.

These roles are 20 hours a week working 4 hours a day which includes a split shift of 2 hours in the morning and afternoon.  These roles are term-time only.  If you cannot adhere to these shifts please do not apply.

This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Who are we looking for?

Professionalism and a good work ethic are an essential part of our service as this projects a good image to the citizens of Coventry out on our roads.  We expect our drivers to:

• Respect all clients and treat them with sensitivity at all times.  
• Be flexible in working contracted hours over a standard working day and over a 5-day working week on a rota basis as and when required to meet the needs of the service.

If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'. If there is any evidence of a candidate using AI to complete their application, then the application will be rejected unless the candidate can provide a justification which the Council considers to be reasonable.

About Coventry

Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change.

We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse.

At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things.

To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.

If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package - to find out more please visit https://www.coventry.gov.uk/council-vacancies