Passenger Assistant (casual)

1.    About ECT

• Ealing Community Transport (ECT) has been providing safe, accessible and affordable community transport for communities since 1979. Our instantly recognisable green minibuses can be spotted throughout Ealing!
  
• ECT is also dedicated to supporting and enabling independent living, reducing isolation and encouraging social interaction, especially for vulnerable people (such as older or disabled people or those with mobility difficulties who struggle to leave their homes). We also provide group transport to local voluntary, community and social groups.
• ECT is part of ECT Charity, a nationally-recognised social enterprise that creates social value through its charitable activities.
  
• ECT is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome all applicants and are happy to make reasonable adjustments during the selection process (and if a position is offered, in employment) if required.
• ECT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and any vulnerable person using our services. In order to meet this responsibility, we follow safer recruitment practices which are outlined in further detail in our Safeguarding Adults at Risk and Protecting People Policy.

2.    Summary of Role

• Our Passenger Assistants (PAs) work as a team with our drivers to provide a range of community transport services, in particular, door-to-door transport for vulnerable individuals and home-to-school transport for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
• Our PAs act with the utmost level of professionalism, care and compassion to ensure that passengers have a safe and enjoyable journey.
• PAs are provided with full training. Further detail on PAs’ key tasks are provided below.

3.    Key Tasks

• Assist passengers to and from the minibus. 
• Ensure the passenger is safely at their destination in accordance with procedures on site (e.g. school protocols). 
• Ensure all passengers are safe and secure in the vehicle and that safety requirements are complied with (e.g. seatbelts or wheelchair restraints).  

• Ensure that passengers are fully supervised at all times (as appropriate) and are only allowed to disembark the vehicle when it is safe for them to do so. 
• If the passenger is not ready for collection, ensure that the driver waits five minutes beyond the scheduled collection time and check with Operations Team at office before moving off. Where appropriate, PA will liaise with school authorities on pupils who have not been picked up. 
• For the homeward journey, if parent or carer is not available to receive the passenger (where appropriate), follow strict predefined procedures. 
• Liaise with carers and families as necessary, maintaining a professional manner at all times. 
• Monitor timetables and keep the Operations Team informed if regular difficulties arise as well as recommending amendments where appropriate. 

• Deal with any emergency relating to passenger’s health and respond to any passenger who may be difficult, confused, agitated or sick. 
• Report any accidents, incidents or emergencies to the Operations Team without delay. 
• Read emails, safety notices, updates, etc. provided to keep all staff up-to-date. 
• Complete paperwork as required. 
• Undertake all other reasonable duties as delegated to them by the Operations Team. 

4.    Requirements for Role

4.1  All PAs must:

• be over 21;
• be committed to high levels of customer care and be caring and sympathetic (particularly to the needs of vulnerable and/or disabled children and older people);
• be able to get on with people from all backgrounds (e.g. people from all ethnic and religious groups, people of both sexes, people with disabilities) politely and sensitively;
• be reliable, conscientious and punctual;
• be physically capable of undertaking manual handling activities (e.g. assisting disabled people to walk to/from vehicle, carrying shopping, assisting wheelchair users);
• work closely with the driver as a team to provide passengers with a safe and quality service;
• have their own mobile phone and ability to access to email on a daily basis;
• be able to read, understand and follow written instructions;
• have excellent verbal communication skills; and
• be smart and presentable.
  

4.2   We welcome applicants with no previous experience in similar roles as full training will be provided.

5.   Details of Role and Employment Particulars

This paragraph 5 provides a brief guide on the terms of employment. If we decide to proceed with your application, you will be issued with full particulars of employment.

5.1  Hours

• This role will form part of a pool of casual PAs (“Relief PAs”). 
• Relief PAs work on an ‘as and when required’ basis and provide a valuable service to the organisation. Engagement is as a casual worker and their services are used on an ad hoc and casual basis. This means that there are no guaranteed shifts, but there is the opportunity to cover sickness and holidays. This may include split-shifts, evenings and weekends as and when required by mutual agreement with us. There is no obligation on the PA to accept any shifts offered – it is a flexible arrangement on both sides.
• Start and finish times subject to change due to operational or traffic reasons.
  

5.2  Location

• PAs shall operate out of ECT’s Greenford Depot which is located at Greenford Road, Greenford, Middlesex UB6 9AN.
  

5.3  Pay

• PAs are paid £11.44 per hour or prevailing (statutory or other) rates, plus holiday pay. Payment will be in monthly in arrears on the production of timesheets.
  
  

5.4  Probation

• Appointment is subject to a six-month probationary period.

5.5  Sick pay

• In addition to statutory sick pay entitlement, PAs may be eligible for ECT’s sick pay scheme (which is dependent on years of service).

5.6  Holidays

• PAs are entitled to 5.6 weeks’ pro-rata paid holiday per year (including bank holidays) which is accrued and paid in April, August and December.
  
  

5.7  Training

• PAs are required to successfully complete the Passenger Assistant Training Scheme (PATS) which includes passenger awareness and assistance and supervising children and young people with special needs or disabilities.
• All PAs will also receive full induction training, including Safeguarding and Health & Safety, to enable them to fully comply with relevant legislation and ECT’s policies and procedures.
• Further training opportunities will be offered where they will enhance our work.

5.8  Uniform

• PAs must wear ECT’s distinctive but informal uniform of polo shirt and green fleece as well as ID at all times.
• High visibility vests and other Personal Protective Equipment will be issued as appropriate and must be worn.
• PAs are expected to look smart and presentable at all times.

5.9  Criminal Record Disclosure

• ECT is committed to a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children and adults at risk of abuse. Our safer recruitment practices support this to ensure that all persons appointed to driving roles are suitable to work with children and adults at risk of abuse.
• This post is exempted from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 thus applicants are required to disclose all and any past or pending cautions or convictions (whether spent or otherwise) unless it is either a “protected caution” or a “protected conviction” under the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. There will be an opportunity to provide this information on the application form.
• Please note that:
  • all information provided about criminal cautions, convictions and offences will be kept in the strictest confidence and only used for the purpose of assessing your suitability for the post you have applied for; and
  • a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining employment. This is in accordance with Government guidelines, the DBS Code of Practice and ECT’s Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Policy.
• Successful applicants are required to undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (ECT will cover this cost).
• ECT follows government guidelines, the DBS Code of Practice and ECT’s Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Policy with respect to the above. Further advice and guidance on disclosing criminal records can be obtained from Nacro’s Criminal Record Support Service.
  

6.  Guidance on Application Process

6.1.  How do I apply?

• Please fill out the online Application Form by clicking the green "Apply for This Job" button (top right).
  
• If you are not able to complete the form online, please contact ealing@ectcharity.co.uk or 020 8813 3210 to request a printable version.
  

6.2.  When is the closing date?

• We will be considering applications on a rolling basis. The sooner you apply, the sooner your application will be considered.

6.3  Will I be interviewed?

• After we receive your completed Application Form, we will contact you to confirm whether or not you have been selected for interview.

6.4 How do you handle my personal data

• ECT will process the personal data that you have supplied on the Application Form in accordance with the Privacy Notice for job applicants available by clicking here.
• It is important to note that ECT will only process your personal data where it has a lawful basis for such processing.