Job info	Job info details
Job title	Passenger Assistant Supervisor
Strategic team/Directorate	Children’s Services
Service	Passenger Assistant Supervisor
Business unit	Service Providers
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Service Manager School Services and SENDIASS
Accountable to (line manager)	Service Manager School Services and SENDIASS
Salary grade	G
JE ref	CSERV049

1. Key purpose of job

• To support the Home to School transport service by managing and developing a team of competent passenger assistants who will support safe journeys between home and school when children / routes are assessed to require passenger assistants.
• Provide regular supervision and effective line management to all passenger assistants.
• To ensure all passenger assistants are aware of, understand and work in accordance with required policies and procedures and safeguarding requirements.

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

• Children and young people will benefit from competent and supportive passenger assistants who support children with additional needs to travel safely on their home to school journeys.

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

• As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.
• To undertake line management responsibilities for passenger assistants and drivers including recruitment, oversight of probation, induction, training, supervision, performance review and absence management.
• To work alongside School Transport Coordination Officers to plan and coordinate the efficient allocation of passenger assistants, matching children’s needs with passenger assistants’ skills and experience.
• Develop and embed passenger assistants risk assessments. Risk assessments will be completed by researching and collating information from passenger assistants about passengers to ensure that risks are accurately identified and considered and appropriate actions are taken when needed including liaison with Health and Safety. Risk assessments will be updated annually or more frequently if changes are identified.
• To support passenger assistants in keeping accurate records of transport journeys and incidents that may occur and taking appropriate and timely action to resolve any issues arising.
• To maintain a passenger assistant data base, including bank passenger assistant availability, to ensure reliable service delivery and accurate management information.
• To assist in the review and development of operational policies and procedures in respect of passenger assistants and their role.
• To be the point of contact for complaints about passenger assistants and escalate as required.
• To give advice and support to parents, schools and governing bodies and provide appropriate information about the support passengers assistants can offer. 
• To deal with correspondence and prepare reports/briefings for senior managements on passenger assistants and the impact on budgets.
• To contribute more broadly to the work of Children’s Services through the sharing of relevant knowledge and expertise.
• To support passenger assistants when they identify challenging behaviours with information and/or training on techniques to defuse behaviours and ensure that the code of conduct for children who use home to school transport is adhered to.
• Maintain good relationships with suppliers and schools where passenger assistants support home to school journeys.
• Work with contractors to induct passenger assistants employed by contractors and ensure consistent and appropriate standards of conduct.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

• To support senior managers in robust budget management and monitoring procedures to deliver the service within allocated financial resources.
• Production of reports for senior management on performance against budget targets.
• Responsibility of all passenger assistants.

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

• Direct line management and supervision of approximately 70 passenger assistants and drivers combined.  

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

• Normal working conditions.

7. Physical demands of the post

• Normal physical demands. 

8. Specific resources used by the post

• Normal Resources.

9. Key contacts and relationships

• External - Parents/carers and young people. Transport Contractors. Schools and Alternative Provisions. Other councils home to school transport departments.
• Internal - Children’s Services SEND and Social Care colleagues. Human Resources. Health and Safety. Procurement. Communications. Staff at all levels in the Council including elected members.

10. Other duties

• To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.

Other Information

• All staff must commit to the Workplace Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Policy.
• Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
• The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Children’s Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council.
• This post is office based at Electric House, Torquay but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.
•  As this post meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check (Disclosure) from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed.  This will include details of ALL cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions, whether “spent” or “unspent”. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.
• The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement. 
• The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
• The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
• The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
• If this post is customer facing, it will require the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
• If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
• If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Passenger Assistant Supervisor
Strategic team/Directorate	Children’s Services
Service	Passenger Assistant Supervisor
Business unit	Service Providers

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

• Ability to write complex reports/ user guides etc clearly and concisely, pulling together information from a variety of sources.
• High standard of IT skills (competent with word processing, spreadsheets, complex databases and case recording systems).
• Ability to interpret and apply legislation/regulations.
• Ability to explain and advise on policies and procedures.
• Ability to monitor financial data.
• Effective communication/diplomacy skills.
• Ability to lead and manage change within the team.
• Ability to manage and develop staff and to manage the performance of external contractors.
• Ability to complete tasks within deadlines, meet targets and manage conflicting priorities within a fast paced, changing environment.
• Ability to work with others collaboratively, e.g., project team.
• Ability to take initiative and be self-motivated.
• This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.

Desirable skills and effectiveness

N/A

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

• Knowledge of management and leadership practices.
• Knowledge of health and safety and risk assessments.
• Knowledge of services delivered within Children’s Services.
• Thorough understanding of the principles of safeguarding children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Desirable knowledge

• Knowledge of home to school transport legislation.
• Understanding of the principles of Working Together to Safeguard Children.

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

• Experience of management and supervision, including dealing with complex staffing issues.
• Proven experience of communicating with a wide range of people to deliver services.
• Producing and presenting reports for wide ranging audience.

Desirable experience and achievements

• Experience in transport environment.
• Experience of procurement and contract management.

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

• Educated to A Level / Level 3 standard or relevant experience.
• Evidence of continued professional development.

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

• Educated to degree level.
• Management Qualification. 

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

• Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
• Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/Southwest/UK in order to carry out duties.
• Ability to accommodate shift patterns, 7am – 3pm or 9am – 5pm.
• Ability to accommodate occasional homeworking.