Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Driver – North Cotswolds
Cotswold Friends is a rapidly growing local charity based in Moreton-in-Marsh. We support older and vulnerable people across the Cotswolds, working to reduce loneliness and isolation, improve health and wellbeing and support independent living. Our Community Transport Service helps people who are not able to drive themselves, or if public transport is not available or difficult to use. The service helps people stay connected to community and attend medical, practical and social appointments. Cotswold Friends has a fleet of three Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs) and an Accessible Community Minibus. We have an opportunity to join our skilled and friendly team as an Accessible Vehicle Driver, covering the North Cotswolds.
MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
· To drive Cotswold Friends’ Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles, collecting people who need to travel in their wheelchair from their homes and supporting them to travel as required.
· To drive Cotswold Friends’ Accessible Community Minibus, collecting groups of people for travel to regular community activities, such as our Friendship Café.
· To drive charity vehicles as required to support people to attend Cotswold Friends’ events.
· To understand and support the needs of people with reduced mobility when travelling.
· To ensure all vehicles are driven safely and all passengers are safe and supported when travelling.
ROLE REQUIREMENTS
· To work with the Community Transport Manager and Accessible Transport Administrator to understand the needs of passengers travelling in our accessible vehicles.
· To work with the Community Transport Team to plan required journeys, including destination details, relevant directions, pick up times, passenger mobility support needs and other requirements.
· To help and support all passengers to travel safely and comfortably using good communication skills, discretion and understanding.
· To collect and return passengers to and from their homes, supporting them to safely access and exit the vehicles.
· To adhere to all Health & Safety requirements, completing vehicle checks before every journey and ensuring any concerns are reported and resolved immediately.
· To attend MIDAS (Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme) accredited training course and complete other training either on-line or in person as deemed necessary for the role
· To understand safeguarding responsibilities within your role, ensuring any concerns are reported to the Community Transport Manager or Safeguarding Lead immediately.
· To support maintenance schedules for the vehicles, delivering vehicles to and from vehicle servicing providers.
· To ensure the vehicles are kept clean and tidy and fuelled at all times.
· To continually liaise with the Community Transport team to ensure smooth running of the service.
· To be organised and punctual, ensuring the service is always reliable for those we support.
· To work with the Community Transport Team to refer people to other charity services if they could benefit, such Befriending or Community Activities.
· To carry out additional duties as deemed necessary for the role
· To behave at all times in a manner consistent with Cotswold Friends values and our Code of Conduct.
· To comply with all Cotswold Friends policies and procedures.
PERSONAL QUALITIES:
· Experienced, safe and confident driver.
· Previous experience of supporting wheelchair users or people with reduced mobility ideal but not essential.
· Friendly, kind, supportive and reliable.
· Good listening and communication skills.
· Good organisational skills.
· Enjoys being part of a team.
Required:
· Full, clean driving licence
· Over 21 and with a driving licence for at least 2 years
· Meets the required fitness to drive criteria for a minibus
· Enhanced DBS Check and 2 references
· Undertake MIDAS (Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme) training, and all other training required for the role
· Physical ability to support wheelchair users to and from their homes to the vehicle.
· Available to drive on a Wednesday to support our Friendship Café members.
Contract:
· Zero-hours contract
· Place of work – Moreton-in-Marsh
· Start date – as soon as possible
· Salary - £13.45 per hour
· Holidays accrued based on 25 days plus bank holidays, pro-rata
· Pension access dependent upon hours worked
Pay: £13.45 per hour
Work Location: In person
