Job profile for Community Transport Operative

Job title: Community Transport Operative

Salary/Grade: 2

Service: Community Transport 

Reports to: Community Transport Manager

Job Purpose

• To transport eligible members of the Community Transport Scheme bearing in mind any specific needs and to assist passengers.
• To assist in cost effective route planning.
• To ensure roadworthiness and readiness of vehicles to undertake journeys.
• To support the development of Community Transport initiatives.

Principal Accountabilities

• To transport passengers by minibus as identified and required by the manager.
• To liaise with the manager in ensuring only those entitled to use the service do so.
• To ensure passengers are transported in a caring manner paying attention to their special needs.
• To assist the manager with the promotion of the service, making socially excluded people in the District aware of its availability.
• To complete and return daily log sheets of passenger journeys and where appropriate account for fares collected and mileage undertaken.
• To carry out pre-vehicle checks daily, safety checks weekly, deliver and collect vehicles and keys to and from service points and ensure vehicles are fuelled
• To be responsible for keeping all vehicles clean and tidy and ensuring tail lifts are clean and lubricated.
• To clamp passengers travelling in wheelchairs securely into the minibus, as and when necessary.

Corporate Accountabilities

• To take responsibility for maintaining own health and attendance. 
• To ensure that you are aware of and comply with your responsibilities under the Council’s Sickness Absence management policy.
• To support, contribute and comply with quality and governance procedures as directed by management.
• To apply and actively promote the principles of the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy in all areas of employment and service delivery.
• Any other associated duties detailed by Head of Service or his representative.
• To advise Line manager if, at any time, the above duties and responsibilities cannot be performed.
• Any other duties as required to support the business, including maintaining business continuity and during civil emergencies.
• To apply and actively promote the principles of the Council’s Safeguarding Procedure in all areas of employment and service delivery.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

(Tested at application and interview stage)

Experience and Qualifications

• A full driving licence with ability to drive category ‘D’ and/or ‘D1’.
• Understanding of Health and Safety including manual handling and risk assessment.
• General knowledge of the Braintree District.

Skills and Knowledge

• Should have a positive attitude.
• Proven communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work in a team or individual based environment.
• Flexibility and willingness to be involved in all aspects of the operation of Community Transport.
• Ability to work well unsupervised, manage time effectively and be self-motivated.
• Must be polite and helpful with the public, representing the Council Values and Behaviours at all times.
• Able to work occasional evenings and weekends.
• Clear understanding of issues relating to equalities and diversity.

Competencies

(Tested at interview stage)

Communicating Effectively

Demonstrate the effective use of the range of communication methods available: written, spoken, electronic, and use these methods in appropriate ways suitable to the context and situation:

• present spoken communication in a polite, friendly and respectful manner seeking to ensure mutual understanding
• listen well and seek clarification and understanding, avoiding jumping to conclusions or making assumptions
• present information and ideas in a clear and understandable way which avoids jargon
• seek to understand the communication needs of colleagues and customers, being mindful of equality issues and the diverse needs of the range of people we work with
• choose the most appropriate method of communication for the situation, seeking to avoid using one fixed style or approach

Performing Efficiently and Effectively

Promote good performance, developing clear, structured and efficient ways of managing workload and delivering results.  Staff should challenge themselves and others to perform well, and to adhere to the Council’s performance management systems:

• ensure that all work carried out by you is in line with business and service plans and supports the overall aims and ambition of the Council
• plan your workload effectively, reporting achievements and problems to appropriate managers and project leaders
• see tasks and objectives through to completion
• approach challenges with drive and enthusiasm
• strive for continuous improvement in your work and manage your learning and development to enable you to perform to the best of your ability

Using and Managing Resources Efficiently and Effectively

Demonstrate the effective and efficient use of the full range of resources used in and by the Council including time, finances, staffing, equipment, information, materials, buildings, etc.

• take responsibility for managing your time, seeking efficient ways to carry out your work, maximising your output and minimising wastage
• use and acquire materials effectively and efficiently minimising wastage, recycling where possible, and striving for cost effectiveness
• seek out ways to improve the use of resources

Engaging with the Customer

Understand the needs and requirements of their customers, to provide excellent customer service, and to involve customers in the improvement of services:

• provide a helpful and friendly service to customers both internally and externally
• take responsibility for following up on enquiries and solving customer issues
• make efforts to fully understand the customer’s needs and avoid assuming that “we know best”
• ensure that you have a full understanding of the needs and requirements of the customer
• seek feedback from internal and external customers on the effectiveness and efficiency of the service you provide

Working well Together

Actively foster good working relationships with colleagues and customers in order to collectively achieve the Council’s direction and ambition:

• co-operate and work well with colleagues at all levels of the organisation seeking collective responsibility for the achievement of goals
• demonstrate consideration, and respect for other’s feelings and opinions and avoid judging and making assumptions
• maintain positive working relationships with external contacts in order to maintain the reputation of the Council
• seek to actively solve problems and avoid passing the issue on to others or leaving the problem unresolved
• demonstrate self-awareness of your style of working and develop flexibility and adaptability in order to work well with others

Other conditions

• This position does require a DBS check
• This position is not politically restricted

Date updated
March 2024

In-house training
To complete MiDas training (Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme)

Values and behaviours

Our values and behaviours are an integral part of who we are; they are the guiding principles that should inform how we work together, support each other and make decisions.

Our organisation thrives on the dedication and passion of its people and it’s important that we embody these values and behaviours and they become a part of our organisational DNA.

Our vision

We will be ambitious, support each other and work together in new ways to achieve outstanding results

Our core values