Job Introduction
About Us
At Oxfordshire County Council (OCC), our Supported Travel Service plays a vital role in keeping communities across the county connected, independent and involved. Every day, a dedicated team of around 200 staff members supports the journeys and travel of approximately 10,000 residents, using a blend of more than 70 in-house fleet vehicles and over 800 contracted vehicles. The service arranges and delivers a wide range of safe, efficient and reliable travel solutions, including home-to-school and SEND transport, independent travel training, personal travel budgets, community and public transport schemes, and essential journeys for children’s and adults’ social care.
Our core commitment is to provide alternative, safe and efficient travel solutions that empower people of all ages to access education, care, and social opportunities. Placing residents and their communities at the heart of everything we do, we focus on enhancing access, enabling participation and improving quality of life. Safeguarding is central to our mission, with all journeys underpinned by robust assurance, professional training and a culture of dignity and respect. Through practical, community-centred solutions, our service ensures that Oxfordshire’s residents can travel confidently and safely, whatever their needs.
This is an exciting time to be joining the team as we shape and embed new ways of working to support high-quality supported travel services.
What You'll Do
Are you passionate about supporting children, young people, and vulnerable adults to access safe, reliable, and empowering travel solutions? Do you thrive in a role where analytical thinking, strong communication, and person-centred decision-making all come together? If so, we would love to hear from you. Oxfordshire County Council is seeking a Travel Assessment Officer to join our Supported Transport Service. This vital role ensures that individuals applying for travel assistance receive the most appropriate and cost‑effective support, in line with statutory responsibilities and our Home to School and Social Care Travel Policies.
We’re looking for a motivated and detail‑focused Travel Assessment Officer to support the safe, efficient and person‑centred delivery of Home to School and Social Care transport across Oxfordshire.
The Travel Assessment Officer is tasked with triaging all applications for travel assistance within the Service, making sure that individuals are paired with the most suitable travel option according to their needs and eligibility, aligning with our Home to School Travel and Transport Policy and hierarchy of travel when assessing suitability. This evaluation covers a range of solutions, including Independent Travel Training, Personal Transport Budgets, bus passes, and council-arranged transport. The Officer receives, assesses and processes applications, works closely with families, establishments, and Transport Coordinators, and maintains detailed records to support informed decision-making.
A key aspect of the role is ensuring that all travel solutions are safe, cost-effective, and designed to foster independence wherever appropriate, while also upholding safeguarding standards. The Officer actively contributes to ongoing service improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency.
What you’ll do — your impact starts here
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Triage and assess travel assistance applications, ensuring each person is matched with the safest and most suitable travel option within our hierarchy of travel – including Independent Travel Training, Personal Transport Budgets, bus passes, or arranged transport.
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Work directly with families, schools, and internal teams, providing clear guidance and building strong, compassionate relationships.
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Ensure compliance with safeguarding protocols, eligibility criteria, statutory guidance, and internal policies at all times.
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Analyse data and assess risks, using sound judgement to support decision‑making and identify opportunities for service improvement.
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Maintain accurate, detailed records to support transparent and auditable decision-making.
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Support the financial performance of the service by assisting with forecasting, reporting, and identifying value‑for‑money opportunities.
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Contribute to ongoing service development, bringing forward ideas to enhance quality, efficiency, and outcomes for the people we support.
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This role is ideal for someone who enjoys varied, impactful work in a supportive and collaborative environment, and who can confidently balance operational delivery with empathy, accuracy, and resilience.
This is a varied role where strong communication skills, excellent attention to detail and a commitment to safeguarding are essential. If you’re organised, confident working with sensitive information, and want to contribute to safe and reliable transport services for children, young people and adults across the county, we’d welcome your application.
You’ll be someone who’s organised, confident in making informed decisions, and committed to delivering safe, fair and cost‑effective travel solutions for children, young people and adults across Oxfordshire. You’ll bring strong communication skills, a proactive mindset, and a focus on service quality and safeguarding.
Could this be you?
What You'll Bring
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Has experience in assessing applications or eligibility for public services.
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Understands safeguarding, risk assessment, and the handling of sensitive data.
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Communicates with clarity, confidence, and compassion—even in complex or emotionally challenging circumstances.
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Can interpret and apply policy consistently and fairly.
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Shows strong organisational, analytical, and decision‑making skills.
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Enjoys partnership working with families, schools, and internal teams to achieve the best outcomes.
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Is proficient in digital systems, data recording, and reporting.
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Holds a Level 3 qualification (or is willing to work towards one), alongside *5 GCSEs (A–C or equivalent)**.
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Experience supporting families, schools or individuals with additional needs through decision‑making or assessment activity.
Before applying, we recommend reviewing the attached job description. It has further information and clear guidance on what we’re looking for.
What You Can Look Forward To
At OCC, you'll be part of a team that’s not only passionate about what we do, but also about how we do it. We foster a culture of inclusion, respect, and continuous improvement, and we’re proud to offer flexible working arrangements, professional development opportunities, and a strong sense of purpose in everything we do.
- Hybrid working
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Great learning and development opportunities to support your growth
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Technology to support agile working – with unlimited access to Copilot for smarter productivity
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Employee Assistance Programme with health and wellbeing support
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Generous annual leave - up to 30 days plus bank holidays, and an option to 'buy' additional time off
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Enhanced family friendly policies
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Local Government Pension Scheme - employer contributions up to 19.9%
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Discounts - local and national offers for shopping and travel
Ready to Apply?
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If you are interested in this role, please submit your application by 10th May
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When applying, please upload a current CV along with a personal statement. Your statement should explain how your skills and experience match the role, referring to the key requirements in the job description.
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We encourage early applications and reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of suitable candidates are identified
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Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Candidates who are shortlisted will be invited to interview shortly thereafter, and we will communicate next steps as soon as possible.
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For informal enquiries or further information about the role, please contact Alexandra O’Hanlon, Head of Fleet and Transport Services on [email protected]
Our commitment to: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.
Our commitment to: Guaranteed Interview Schemes
As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.
Our commitment to: Safeguarding
Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.
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