Kirklees Council

Minibus Driver / Attendant

The closing date is 07 July 2025

Job summary

Based at Gatehouse Enterprise Centre, Lockwood, Huddersfield, HD1 3QD

These roles involveworking a split shift Term Time only, Monday to Friday.

Minimum 20 hours (A job share for either AM or PM shift may be considered with a minimum of 10 hours per week)

The Passenger Travel Team (Home to School Transport)

We provide essential support to children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) on their journey from home to schools across Kirklees and beyond.

We see the service we provide as an extension to the childrens school experience and our drivers are vital in ensuring that each journey is safe and enjoyable for the children we support.

Drivers are responsible for delivering our high-quality transport service and we are seeking reliable and flexible people to become valued members of our team.

Main duties of the job

The role is split shift, term time only, typically operating between 7.00am-10.00am and 2.00pm-5.30pm in any one day. However, applicants must be flexible and prepared to work outside those times when required. A job share for either AM or PM shift may be considered with a minimum of 10 hours per week.

Drivers are contracted to 20 hours per week, but this may increase depending on the journey. We aim to keep the children on transport for the minimum amount of time due to their additional needs.

Drivers are required to have the D1 licence to drive the minibuses and are subject to an Enhanced DBS Check with both Adult and Childrens Barred List Checks (Training can be provided for the D1 requirement for successful applicants).

The role requires some manual handling in securing passengers in wheelchairs and adding/removing passenger seats to/from the vehicle. Some passengers are particularly vulnerable and can pose some challenging behaviour during transport.

For this role there is a package of mandatory training that drivers must complete and applicants must be willing to attend all mandatory training.

For a full list of role requirements please see attached Job Profile.

About us

What can we offer?

  • Friendly and supportive team environment
  • Ongoing training
  • Excellent pension scheme
  • We offer a wide range of well-being initiatives

As an employee of the Council, the right behaviours and attitudes are as important to us as the skills you bring to the job.

You will need to have a standard medical screening as determined by the Employee Healthcare Unit appropriate to occupational risk.

Kathryn Westerbyis the manager for this role, please contact them on 01484 221000 for an informal discussion, or if you need any more information.

Details

Date posted

24 June 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£12.85 to £13.05 an hour

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Term time hours

Reference number

F0014-25-0000

Job locations

Kirklees Council

Albert Street

Lockwood

Huddersfield

HD1 3QD


Job description

Job responsibilities

Job purpose Your role is within the Passenger Travel Service, which transports over 1000 Pre16 children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to schools within Kirklees and beyond. As well as ensuring a safe and comfortable journey, we also want to make the journey an enjoyable experience for our passengers.

The post is a split shift system based around home to school transport hours. Applicants must be flexible and prepared to work outside those times when required.

The role requires some manual handling in securing passengers in wheelchairs and adding/removing passenger seats to/from the vehicle. Some passengers are particularly vulnerable and can pose some challenging behaviour during transport.

Our drivers are required to have the D1 licence to drive the minibuses and are subject to an Enhanced DBS Check with both Adult and Childrens Barred List Checks

This role is based within Place. .

Key areas of responsibility

Drive the vehicle in such a way as to ensure safety throughout the journey and the personal comfort of all passengers.

Assist when required to ensure the safe transfer of passengers to and from the vehicle at their destination and/or home.

Ensure that wheelchairs are clamped safely, and people secured in their seats in accordance with the Code of Practice.

Liaise with the Manager regarding daily pick-ups and routes to be travelled and advise of any concerns and difficulties. Exercise judgement in terms of routes and timetables. Consideration for the safety and comfort of service users should be considered, together with the economic operation of the service.

Comply with the Authority's instructions/check list for daily maintenance and service of vehicles and report any defects as necessary.

Undertake cleaning of vehicles, both inside and out, as scheduled by the Manager.

Ensure clients travel in a safe manner with regard to correct use of wheelchair clamps, seat belts etc. in accordance with the Code of Practice.

Ensure safe access and egress to/from bus.

Take appropriate action in case of emergency in accordance with specified instructions.

Assist and manoeuvre service users as appropriate and in accordance with manual handling regulations, including the save use of the passenger lift. Page 2 of 4

Ensure that all reasonable precautions are taken to protect service users, colleagues and yourself under existing Health & Safety regulations and immediately report any potential hazards.

Drivers are required to participate in any training provided by the Council.

Responsible for the vehicle and the safety of passengers.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job purpose Your role is within the Passenger Travel Service, which transports over 1000 Pre16 children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to schools within Kirklees and beyond. As well as ensuring a safe and comfortable journey, we also want to make the journey an enjoyable experience for our passengers.

The post is a split shift system based around home to school transport hours. Applicants must be flexible and prepared to work outside those times when required.

The role requires some manual handling in securing passengers in wheelchairs and adding/removing passenger seats to/from the vehicle. Some passengers are particularly vulnerable and can pose some challenging behaviour during transport.

Our drivers are required to have the D1 licence to drive the minibuses and are subject to an Enhanced DBS Check with both Adult and Childrens Barred List Checks

This role is based within Place. .

Key areas of responsibility

Drive the vehicle in such a way as to ensure safety throughout the journey and the personal comfort of all passengers.

Assist when required to ensure the safe transfer of passengers to and from the vehicle at their destination and/or home.

Ensure that wheelchairs are clamped safely, and people secured in their seats in accordance with the Code of Practice.

Liaise with the Manager regarding daily pick-ups and routes to be travelled and advise of any concerns and difficulties. Exercise judgement in terms of routes and timetables. Consideration for the safety and comfort of service users should be considered, together with the economic operation of the service.

Comply with the Authority's instructions/check list for daily maintenance and service of vehicles and report any defects as necessary.

Undertake cleaning of vehicles, both inside and out, as scheduled by the Manager.

Ensure clients travel in a safe manner with regard to correct use of wheelchair clamps, seat belts etc. in accordance with the Code of Practice.

Ensure safe access and egress to/from bus.

Take appropriate action in case of emergency in accordance with specified instructions.

Assist and manoeuvre service users as appropriate and in accordance with manual handling regulations, including the save use of the passenger lift. Page 2 of 4

Ensure that all reasonable precautions are taken to protect service users, colleagues and yourself under existing Health & Safety regulations and immediately report any potential hazards.

Drivers are required to participate in any training provided by the Council.

Responsible for the vehicle and the safety of passengers.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Full UK Driving Licence with D1 entitlement (or Full UK Driving
  • Licence with the willingness to work towards D1 entitlement). Please
  • note that endorsements may not exclude candidates from
  • appointment but will be considered as part of the recruitment exercise

Desirable

  • NVQ in Passenger Transport
  • MiDAS (Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme)

Experience

Essential

  • Willingness to undertake specific job-related training
  • A standard of literacy and numeracy to be able to complete and
  • understand documents, forms etc
  • Basic knowledge and experience of Health and Safety issues
  • Ability to ensure passengers travel in a safe manner with regard the
  • correct use of wheelchair clamps, seat belts etc. in line with the Code
  • of Practice.
  • Ability to take appropriate action in case of emergency, in line with
  • specified instructions.
  • Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with service users,
  • parents/carers, schools and work colleagues.
  • Experience of carrying out customer care, with an empathetic
  • approach to service users needs.
  • Experience and knowledge of working with/caring for people who
  • have special educational needs/disability
  • Knowledge of equipment used in the carriage of passengers with
  • special needs/disabilities
  • Demonstrate patience and resilience with an ability to remain calm
  • under pressure
  • Willingness to work outside of normal/contracted hours if required and
  • flexibility to get to a central pick up/drop off point for collecting
  • vehicles
  • Demonstrate ability to be a team player and work as part of a team
  • Confidentiality
  • Demonstrate geographical knowledge of the district
  • This job involves working with service users who may have restricted
  • mobility and/or challenging behaviour. Following an offer of
  • appointment, you will be required to undertake a standard medical
  • screening as determined by the occupational health unit appropriate
  • to occupational risk.
  • Flexibility in working hours, locations and types of vehicles.
  • Accepts an enhanced DBS and barred list check is required. Please
  • note that a conviction may not exclude candidates from appointment
  • but will be considered as part of the recruitment process.

Desirable

  • Experience of driving passenger carrying vehicles
  • Experience of safely transporting and assisting passengers
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Full UK Driving Licence with D1 entitlement (or Full UK Driving
  • Licence with the willingness to work towards D1 entitlement). Please
  • note that endorsements may not exclude candidates from
  • appointment but will be considered as part of the recruitment exercise

Desirable

  • NVQ in Passenger Transport
  • MiDAS (Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme)

Experience

Essential

  • Willingness to undertake specific job-related training
  • A standard of literacy and numeracy to be able to complete and
  • understand documents, forms etc
  • Basic knowledge and experience of Health and Safety issues
  • Ability to ensure passengers travel in a safe manner with regard the
  • correct use of wheelchair clamps, seat belts etc. in line with the Code
  • of Practice.
  • Ability to take appropriate action in case of emergency, in line with
  • specified instructions.
  • Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with service users,
  • parents/carers, schools and work colleagues.
  • Experience of carrying out customer care, with an empathetic
  • approach to service users needs.
  • Experience and knowledge of working with/caring for people who
  • have special educational needs/disability
  • Knowledge of equipment used in the carriage of passengers with
  • special needs/disabilities
  • Demonstrate patience and resilience with an ability to remain calm
  • under pressure
  • Willingness to work outside of normal/contracted hours if required and
  • flexibility to get to a central pick up/drop off point for collecting
  • vehicles
  • Demonstrate ability to be a team player and work as part of a team
  • Confidentiality
  • Demonstrate geographical knowledge of the district
  • This job involves working with service users who may have restricted
  • mobility and/or challenging behaviour. Following an offer of
  • appointment, you will be required to undertake a standard medical
  • screening as determined by the occupational health unit appropriate
  • to occupational risk.
  • Flexibility in working hours, locations and types of vehicles.
  • Accepts an enhanced DBS and barred list check is required. Please
  • note that a conviction may not exclude candidates from appointment
  • but will be considered as part of the recruitment process.

Desirable

  • Experience of driving passenger carrying vehicles
  • Experience of safely transporting and assisting passengers

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Kirklees Council

Address

Kirklees Council

Albert Street

Lockwood

Huddersfield

HD1 3QD


Employer's website

https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/default.aspx (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Kirklees Council

Address

Kirklees Council

Albert Street

Lockwood

Huddersfield

HD1 3QD


Employer's website

https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/default.aspx (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Kathryn Westerby

jobs@kirklees.gov.uk

01484221000

Details

Date posted

24 June 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£12.85 to £13.05 an hour

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Term time hours

Reference number

F0014-25-0000

Job locations

Kirklees Council

Albert Street

Lockwood

Huddersfield

HD1 3QD


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