Advertised role location: TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT (K)
Official document: Band 3_Bus Driver (doc)
JOB DESCRIPTION

POST: Bus Driver

LOCATION: All facilities - Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

BAND: 3

REPORTS TO: Transport Supervisor

RESPONSIBLE TO: Senior Manager

Job Summary / Main Purpose

The post holder will be responsible for the safe transportation of clients between facilities/home/other venues, providing an efficient, safe and reliable service, contributing to the overall care of patients and clients.

Main Duties / Responsibilities
For each of the following, the postholder will;

Transport
Collect and convey elderly, mentally ill, sensory impaired clients or those with a physical or learning disability from their homes/hospital to Day Centres, on outings etc.
Drive any vehicle allocated within the limits of your driving licence, in a careful, lawful manner with special regard for the needs of the passengers or goods being carried.
Offer passengers assistance with seatbelts and secure passengers travelling in wheelchairs with the appropriate restraint and harness. Ensure that when transporting children under 14 years of age, they comply with the wearing of seatbelts. Report to Supervisor any passenger that fails to comply with the legal requirement to wear a seatbelt.
Ensure that clients receive any necessary assistance, whether in their preparation for travel, their movement from home/hospital ward to the bus, during their journey or from the bus to the Day Centre.
Administer emergency aid to clients sustaining minor injuries whilst on the bus.
Ensure the vehicle is kept clean inside and out and clean up spillages as they occur.
Facilitate clients in the collection of pensions, prescriptions, groceries etc by arranging routes accordingly, as directed by the Day Centre Manager.
Move and transport furniture, equipment, meals etc as directed, in accordance with relevant legislation and training.
Be familiar with the operation of all Trust vehicles and the full range of associated equipment e.g. tail-lift, doors.
Carry out ongoing risk assessments of access to and from clients’ homes to ensure safe access for self and clients. Report any risks to your supervisor and assist in the rectification of the risks.
Transport guide dogs, with passengers, as required.

Client Care
Ensure that the focus of your work is on clients and the delivery of a high quality and caring service.
Assess the level of ability and understanding of passengers and adopt the appropriate method of communication.
Be aware of and meet the transport needs of each individual as detailed in their care plan.
Maintain and protect the dignity and vulnerability of clients, having special regard to confidentiality in all aspects of their care.
Assist with client activities at the Day Centre.
Accompany clients, where appropriate, to locations outside the Centre. Accompany same gender clients to toilets and assist with meal service as required.
Report to a senior officer, untoward incidents, falls and complaints.
Report concerns about vulnerable clients, which are observed while in the client’s house, to the appropriate Day Centre staff.
Deal with untoward incidents and challenging situations as they occur on the bus.
Deal appropriately with clients with challenging or disruptive behaviour.
Ensure that alternative arrangements are made for clients when there is no access to their home address.
Ensure the safe custody of keys, drugs and cash on behalf of client as requested by the Day Centre Manager.

Vehicle Maintenance
Carry out daily routine checks and maintenance of your vehicle including fuel, oil, water, tyres etc.
Report defects in vehicles or any other equipment, to the Transport Supervisor or other designated officer.
Complete logbooks and other documentation as required.

General
Liaise with other Trust staff from Day Centres and Wards to ensure an efficient service to clients and patients.
Ensure a high standard of recording information, which may impact on the transport of clients.
Ensure that all complaints are brought to the attention of the Transport Supervisor and assist in the thorough investigation of such complaints to ensure that appropriate, immediate action is taken.
Maintain a clean and tidy appearance wearing the uniform provided.
Adhere to all Health and Safety policies, reporting any accidents immediately they occur and complete the necessary documentation and assist with the investigation of such accidents.
Participate in any appropriate training considered necessary.
Develop one’s self within the job to ensure continuous improvement.
Carry out any other duties as required.
General Responsibilities

Employees of the Trust are required to promote and support the mission and vision of the service for which they are responsible and:
At all times provide a caring service and to treat those with whom they come into contact in a courteous and respectful manner.
The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency. The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with Belfast Trust’s Whistleblowing Policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.
Demonstrate their commitment by their regular attendance and the efficient completion of all tasks allocated to them.
Comply with the Trust’s Smoke Free Policy.
Carry out their duties and responsibilities in compliance with the Health and Safety Policies and Statutory Regulations.
Adhere to Equality and Good Relations duties throughout the course of their employment.
Ensure the ongoing confidence of the public in-service provision.
Maintain high standards of personal accountability.
Comply with the HPSS Code of Conduct.

Information Governance  

All employees of Belfast Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, including patient/client, corporate and administrative records whether paper based or electronic and also including e-mails.  All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environment Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant and to comply with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust policies on Information Governance including for example the ICT Security Policy, Data Protection Policy and Records Management Policy and to seek advice if in doubt.

For further information on how we use your personal data within HR, please refer to the Privacy Notice available on the HUB or Your HR

Environmental Cleaning Strategy

The Trusts Environmental Cleaning Strategy recognises the key principle that “Cleanliness matters is everyone’s responsibility, not just the cleaners” Whilst there are staff employed who are responsible for cleaning services, all Trust staff have a responsibility to ensure a clean, comfortable, safe environment for patients, clients, residents, visitors, staff and members of the general public.

Infection Prevention and Control

The Belfast Trust is committed to reducing Healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) and all staff have a part to play in making this happen. Staff must comply with all policies in relation to Infection Prevention and Control and with ongoing reduction strategies. Standard Infection Prevention and Control Precautions must be used at all times to ensure the safety of patients and staff.
This includes:-
Cleaning hands either with soap and water or a hand sanitiser at the appropriate times (WHO ‘5 moments’);
Using the correct ‘7 step’ hand hygiene technique;
Being ‘bare below the elbows’ when in a clinical environment;
Following Trust policies and the Regional Infection Control Manual (found on intranet);
Wearing the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE);
Ensuring correct handling and disposal of waste (including sharps) and laundry;
Ensuring all medical devices (equipment) are decontaminated appropriately i.e. cleaned, disinfected and/or sterilised;
Ensuring compliance with High Impact Interventions.

Personal Public Involvement

Staff members are expected to involve patients, clients, carers and the wider community were relevant, in developing, planning and delivering our services in a meaningful and effective way, as part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to Personal Public Involvement (PPI).

Please use the link below to access the PPI standards leaflet for further information.

http://www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/PPI_leaflet.pdf

Clause: This job description is not meant to be definitive and may be amended to meet the changing needs of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE / BAND: Bus Driver / Band 3

DEPT / DIRECTORATE: Nursing and User Experience

Notes to applicants:
You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.
Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note the Trust reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined below at shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the desirable criteria.
Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage.
You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor
Criteria
Method of Assessment

Qualifications
Registration
Experience

Experience in driving vehicles with more than 16 seats.
Shortlisting by Application Form

Other (e.g. Driving etc.)

Hold a current PCV Category D licence with no restrictions.

Hold a current driver CPC qualification card.

‘Where disability prohibits driving, this criteria will be waived if the applicant is able to organise suitable alternative arrangements.’

Shortlisting by Application Form

Knowledge
Skills
Abilities

Good communication skills.
Interview

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

Desirable criteria will ONLY be used where it is necessary to introduce additional job related criteria to ensure files are manageable. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how you meet these. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

Factor
Criteria
Method of Assessment

Qualifications
Registration
Experience

Experience of working with older people or those with a physical or learning disability.
Experience in operating a vehicle passenger lift.

Shortlisting by Application Form

NOTE:
Where educational/professional qualifications form part of the criteria you will be required, if shortlisted for interview, to produce original certificates and one photocopy of same issued by the appropriate authority. Only those certificates relevant to the shortlisting criteria should be produced. If educational certificates are not available an original letter and photocopy of same detailing examination results from your school or college will be accepted as an alternative.

If successful you will be required to produce documentary evidence that you are legally entitled to live and work in the United Kingdom. This documentation can be a P45, Payslip, National Insurance Card or a Birth Certificate confirming birth in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland. Failure to produce evidence will result in a non-appointment.

Where a post involves working in regulated activity with vulnerable groups, post holders will be required to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority.

HSC Values

Whilst employees will be expected to portray all the values, particular attention is drawn to the following values for this role