H2S PCO Company Driver

The HATS Group is the UK's foremost private healthcare provider, excelling in patient-centric transport services with an 'Outstanding' rating for Responsiveness from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Recognized for professionalism, excellence, and a fleet of over 800 vehicles, we support various public and private healthcare institutions, delivering over 2,000,000 passenger movements annually.

We have an opportunity for a PCO Company Driver to join our team.

Job purpose: A PCO company driver is responsible for driving a passenger-carrying vehicle and providing good customer service and a safe and comfortable journey throughout the network of HATS home-to-school services.

Job Title: PCO Company  Driver

Department: Special Educational Needs

Reports to: Controller

Pay Structure: Paid an Hourly Rate

Position in Organisation Chart: Team Leader > Controller > PCO Company Bus Driver

About The Role

Main duties:

• Ensure safety and wellbeing of clients throughout the journey and handover.

• To ensure that the high visibility PPE is always worn in vehicle movement areas.

• To ensure that speed limits are observed within bus depots and school premises.    

To check the condition of the vehicle prior to commencing service by.

• acarrying out the safety walk round check.

• ensuring that any defect in the vehicle or equipment is reported as soon as possible to the right person.

•   completing the Vehicle Defect Card or entering the defect on the electronic ticket machine (depending on location)

•   ensuring that the vehicle is clean and tidy before starting service.

• To comply with the laws and company regulations regarding the use of mobile phones, smoking in company vehicles and the use of prohibited equipment (such as games consoles) whilst on duty.            

• To be responsible for the health, safety, security, welfare, environmental and fire safety arrangements for yourself, customers, and colleagues.

•  This must include attendance at safety briefings and training as required.

•  To ensure all safety accidents/incidents are reported using the company’s reporting procedure.

•  To ensure a full understanding of emergency and evacuation plans.

•  To ensure your bus cab area is always kept in a safe and tidy condition

•  To always provide a high standard of customer service

• To always provide a high standard of customer service.

•  To give customers on the bus any information that may help them during their journey. Examples would be informing customers of road closures and diversions.

•  To always behave in a friendly and professional way to customers and colleagues.

•  To recognize and assist with the additional needs of children and vulnerable adults, the elderly, infirm or disabled.

•  To drive the Company’s vehicles in a safe, legal, and professional way.

•  To drive to the set timetable, not running early or late, when it is safe to do so.

•  To keep up to date with road closures, diversions or special events which may affect the service. This is done by reading notices, attending briefings, listening to instructions of your Supervisors.

•  To ensure that a valid driving licence and Person PCO Licence is held at all times and is availble for inspection by a member on staff of the Company.

A driver must ensure that:

• their Drivers licence and person PCO licence is in date and valid for the vehicle type they are driving.

• their licence has the required medical renewals up to date.

• any change to the licence which may affect their entitlement to drive is communicated to their line manager (e.g., Sickness, injury or conviction)

• their licence is made available for inspection in every 6-month period.

•  To report for work at the correct time and location with the correct equipment.

•  To ensure that the company dress code is correctly always observed when on duty.

•  Not to report for work when overtired or under the influence of alcohol or drugs (see Company policy for further details).

•  To ensure that the relevant notification procedures are followed in the event of absence from work.

•  To report all safety, security, driving and customer service incidents to the line manager as soon as possible.

•  To report all incidents on the road, likely to affect the service as soon as it is safe to do so. Examples would be road closures, accidents, emergencies, and highway repairs.

• To report for work at the correct time and location with the correct equipment.

•  To ensure that the company dress code is correctly always observed when on duty.

•  Not to report for work when overtired or under the influence of alcohol or drugs (see Company policy for further details).

•  To ensure that the relevant notification procedures are followed in the event of absence from work.

•  To take part in a yearly appraisal.

•  To feedback ideas about how services can be improved to their line manager.

•  To always ensure adherence to all HATS policies and procedures.

•  To undertake any reasonable request made by the Company.

  Work Environment:

Participate in flexible working hours with general core working hours between 07.00 - 09.00 and 14.30 – 16.30. Undertake additional work as the service needs dictate. The job holder follows instructed daily and weekly work schedules and is required to report to the Controller where incidents or problems occur. 

The jobholder’s usual place of work on a day-to-day basis is in a predominately outdoor environment on vehicles that transport clients from and to various locations. It is required to work safely and efficiently in all weather, traffic and road conditions. 

The job holder must not have any physical or mental limitations that could possibly or will interfere with the safe passage of clients, passenger assistance, and emergency activities.   

Skills Needed

About The Company

About us

The HATS Group is the UK’s leading private provider of Patient Transport, Mental Health, Home to Schools for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Transport Services and Private Passenger Hire Services, with an enviable reputation for professionalism and service excellence.

Led by a dedicated and highly experienced senior management team and supported by a highly skilled operations and compliance team, HATS are the partner of choice for many, providing over 2,000,000 passenger movements every year.

Expertly trained staff and caring teams, successfully deliver high quality, passenger focused transport solutions and with a fleet of over 800 vehicles The HATS Group supports the NHS, CCGS, Mental Health Trusts, Local Authorities and a range of other Public Sector bodies and Private Medical Institutions.

We are incredibly proud that our last Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection, which took place during 2020 rated us as ‘Good’ Overall and ‘Outstanding’ for Responsiveness.

Company Culture

Why join HATS?

Are you passionate about healthcare? Do you enjoy helping others?

If you answered yes – then why not get in touch today: we’d love to hear from you. As one of the UK’s fastest growing independent healthcare transport providers, we are always looking for passionate and skilled individuals to join our dedicated team of paramedics, technicians, drivers, passenger care and customer service assistants as well as a range of many more exciting positions and opportunities.

At HATS we support the London Living Wage (LLW) and have signed up to HM Governments Disability Confident Employer Scheme – a scheme developed by employers and disabled people’s representatives, that aims to maximise the opportunities for disabled people.HATS is a fast growing business that is creating new opportunities across the UK for many people.

We have in the past 12 months starting operating in Manchester, Birmingham and Luton as well as winning new contracts in London. We need people who can work at pace and are not phased by big projects and tight deadlines. You will need to be able to be hands on when the need arises.

Desired Criteria

• Own transport and lives within reasonable distance of place of work
• Bus industry knowledge and an appreciation of bus regulations.
• Understanding of what good customer service looks like
• NVQ in Road Passenger Transport.
• Customer Service Training
• NVQ in Customer Care.
• Advanced Driver training Certificate
• Professional driving experience
• Experience of dealing with customers
• Knowledge of geographical operating area
• Accident free record over the last 12 months

Required Criteria

• Valid current UK (or acceptable other) drivers licence
• No greater than 3 penalty points
• Good understanding of written and spoken English Language.
• Good numeric skills (able to add and subtract cash).
• Proven eligibility to work in the UK
• Able to provide suitable references
• Able to prove their identity
• Valid Current Person PCO certificate
• Basic secondary school education or equivalent.
• Prepared to undertake training such as NVQ as required
• Ability to drive a vehicle to a competent and safe standard
• Good written and verbal communication skills using English Language to ESOL entry level 2.
• Has the physical capability to carry out the role
• Customer service skills
• Pass medical requirements
• Must pass enhanced CRB check.
• Must pass alcohol and drugs screening as per policy

Closing DateSaturday 31st August, 2024