DigiGo Minibus Driver - Working for Essex

About the role

DigiGo Minibus Driver

Fixed Term, Full Time and Part Time

Up to £19,971 per annum (FTE), pay award pending

Location: Braintree and surrounding areas

We are recruiting for multiple vacancies including full time and part time positions. All roles cover 5 days a week working the following shifts.

6:30am to 2:55pm – Full Time working 37 hours per week

2:05pm to 10:30pm – Full Time working 37 hours per week

2:45pm to 10:00pm – Part Time working 19.6 hours per week

Full time positions include one full weekend and one Saturday and one Sunday out of every 5 weeks rolling rota. Part time positions include one full weekend and one Saturday and one Sunday out of every 6 weeks rolling rota.

Please note this is a fixed term contract position for 18 months.

Essex County Council (ECC) is one of the largest and most dynamic local authorities in the UK, serving a population of 2 million residents, and has a very successful track record of delivering transformational change. ECC anticipated change was needed in the public sector and has worked to deliver better quality at lower cost. We have an ambitious transformation agenda – one with the scope to reach every part of the council. We are changing the way we think, the way we work, and the ways in which we deliver our services. We are committed to becoming a place where individuals, partners and communities feel proud to play their role and genuinely want to belong. We’re immensely proud of our flexible working options.

The Opportunity

Essex County Council has been awarded funding from the Department for Transport to deliver two Digital Demand Responsive Transport (D-DRT) schemes. The schemes are characterised by flexibility, with no set timetables or routes.

The service will be supported by a digital app which matches journey requests by passengers with a minibus. Passengers will be able to book and pay for their rides through the app or by telephone.

As a D-DRT Driver, you will fulfil a vital role in the ultimate success of both high-profile schemes, taking pride in getting to know our passengers; offering a transport service that is personable, dependable and friendly. You’ll also get to drive our brand new, electric minibuses!

We’re looking for people with a caring and professional approach. The ideal person will naturally go above and beyond; acknowledging that our passengers value a friendly face and someone who is thoughtful and considerate. Flexibility is therefore essential.

As a Driver, you’ll be transporting a diverse range of the public; from students, commuters, older people and individuals with disabilities.

No two of your working days will likely be the same. You will be directed by a digital app on a tablet provided by Essex County Council, which will show your route depending on the demand of customers on the day. The area of operation varies from the suburban areas of Rayne and Great Notley to the scenic rural Essex countryside northwest of Chelmsford.

Accountabilities

Log in and follow instructions from the digital app which will provide navigation instructions and other passenger information
Daily checks of your vehicle to ensure safety, cleanliness and road worthiness
Engaging with passengers on a daily basis, transporting them to their destination in a safe and comfortable manner
Taking responsibility for safety on your vehicle at all times, including securing of equipment (e.g. tail lifts, wheelchairs), use of seatbelts and awareness of passenger needs
Being the services first point of contact with customers and, where possible, resolving individual queries or concerns
Timely communication of issues with your line manager to enable swift resolution.

The Experience You Will Bring

Hold a valid driving license with a D1 entitlement - Essential
Experience in working with customers from a broad and diverse range of backgrounds/needs
Can demonstrate prior experience of being adaptable and flexible
Ability to work in a timely manner with a calm and professional approach
Ability to use a smartphone and/or tablet
Ability to follow navigation and other instructions from the digital app
Demonstrate good communication and social skills in a customer-based setting.

If successful, you will require

An enhanced DBS check
To undertake training in the use of a specific digital app that is integral to the service
To undertake mandatory training; including MiDAS
Undertake an Essex County Council minibus driver’s assessment.

To read more about us please visit: Climate, Environment and Customer Services

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

Why Essex? Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England’s oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest – Basildon and Harlow – are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us here.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

What you should do next

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via the Working for Essex website.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community here .

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email Laura.O’Connor@essex.gov.uk

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