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Job description

To drive any vehicle with less than 9 seats allocated in a careful, lawful manner with special reference to the persons and equipment being carried. The nature of this position will require staff to be flexible as daily duties may be changeable on a day to day to basis depending on service requirements.

Responsibilities

• Transport of children, including those with mobility problems or severe/moderate learning difficulties to and from school or other authorised locations.
• To assist children, including those with mobility problems in and out of the vehicle.
• To ensure the good behaviour of children on the vehicle where practicable and to report any behaviour incidents to the designated member of staff in the Transport Office.
• To operate ramps and support equipment on vehicles as required and ensure that wheelchairs are properly clamped down and secured.
• To provide minor first aid to passengers and ensure that any injured child receives medical attention as quickly as possible.Completion and submission of the relevant personal injury report/accident report forms to the Transport Office without delay
• To direct School Vehicle Escorts where employed, in assisting with the above duties.
• To transport meals from and return empty containers to School Meals Kitchens and assist generally in delivering or collecting items on behalf of EA services.
• Transport EA staff when positioning EA vehicles for maintenance or relocation.
• To ensure, as far as possible, that scheduled timings are observed and to keep a detailed record of journeys, fuel issues, oil, servicing and repair work on the vehicle log/mileage sheet.
• To carry out daily routine vehicle maintenance including the checking of fuel, oil and water levels, tyre pressures and topping up as required.
• To complete defect report book and submit to engineer.
• To comply with the relevant EA Procedures and Road Transport (Working Time) Directive, including the use and submission of appropriate vehicle records.
• To ensure the safe custody of all spare parts, tools, articles, equipment or other goods carried in the vehicle or under his/her immediate control whether the property of the Education Authority or otherwise.
• To wash the allocated vehicle as and when necessary and ensure that the interior is kept clean and tidy.
• To comply with the provisions contained in the Education Authority’s official Drivers’ Manual.
• All duties must be carried out to comply with:
• (a) The Health and Safety at Work (NI) order 1978;
• (b) Acts of Parliament, Statutory Instruments and Regulations and other legal requirements;
• (c) Codes of Practice.
• All duties will be carried out in the working conditions normally inherent in the particular job.
• All necessary paperwork must be completed.
• Duties will be carried out for jobs up to and including those in the same grade, provided such duties are within the competence of the employee.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• Hold a full, clean Category B Licence.
• Have one year's demonstrable experience of a passenger carrying driving role (vehicles under 9 seats), either in a paid or voluntary capacity.
• Proven experience in a role that required effective communication.
• Proven ability to maintain accurate and up to date records.
• Willingness to undertake job related training and necessary certifications to fulfil the requirements of the role.

Desirable Skills

• Evidence of experience in using safety and mobility aids relating to wheelchair accessible vehicles.
• Have one year's experience of working with children with Special Educational Needs either in a paid or voluntary capacity.
• Experience of working with children.

Further Information

Primary Location: Dundonald Office, Grahamsbridge Road, Dundonald, BT16 2HS. Other Locations: Belfast - Transport Depot Hammer, Newry - Transport Depot Newry. A full list of responsibilities, essential and desirable criteria can be found on the Education Authority website. The Education Authority is an equal opportunities employer.