Driver

Essex

n/a - n/a

£25,081-£25,081

Braintree

Permanent

Customer Services

Role

Driver

Permanent, Full Time

£25,081 pro rata

Location: Braintree

Working Style: Operational field-based worker

Closing Date: 15th July 2025

This position requires all applicants to have a D1 category on their licence.

The Role

You will be working in a friendly team transporting the general public, based in Braintree, and servicing an area around Braintree. You will driving electric mini-buses up to 16 seats. On a shift pattern 5 days a week 2pm -7pm.

To read more about our business area, please visit:

Climate, Environment and Customer Services

The Opportunity

The role is responsible for undertaking a range of vehicle driving duties within Essex for Community Link ensuring passengers are carried in a safe, cost effective and environmentally aware way; working collaboratively with the Passenger Assistant / Co- driver allocated to the vehicle to take responsibility for the vehicle and passengers whilst driving.

The role ensures the safe transfer of passengers between pick up and drop off for passengers and that vehicles are driven in line with the requirements of the Highway Code and ECC driver guidelines.

The role will deliver a high-level of customer service to ensure customer queries are brought to a satisfactory conclusion by ensuring that messages are passed on and dealt with at a senior level where appropriate.

The role assists in promoting Community Link by providing an exceptional service throughout Essex.

Accountabilities

The role ensures that routes taken are as instructed and cost effective.
Responsible for ensuring that the day to day operation of the vehicle, including the recording of statistical data relating to vehicle details, passengers carried and maintenance records.
Responsible for routine maintenance of the vehicle and ensuring it is kept clean and tidy; ensuring the vehicle driven meets all legal requirements or ECC standards, where they exceed minimum legal requirements.
Responsible for undertaking vehicle safety checks at the start of each day and completing appropriate paperwork; ensuring the tail lift/disabled access equipment on the vehicle is mechanically sound and operated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Responsible for ensuring that all ancillary equipment is stored appropriately in the vehicle in order to ensure safety is maintained and that that all passengers are safely secured during the journey; assisting passengers on and off the vehicle and to and from their destination as required.
Representing Community link as first point of contact with passengers.
Responsible for ensuring risk assessments for the vehicles and passengers are up to date, advising of any change in circumstances that require amendment to the risk assessment.
Responsible for ensuring the passengers’ health and wellbeing is of paramount concern whilst they are using the service.
Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

The Experience You Will Bring

Educated to GCSE Level or equivalent by experience.
Holder of a valid driving licence with Category D1 entitlement.
Previous experience of driving a passenger carrying minibus would be advantageous.
Previous experience of working with people with special needs.
Ability to carry out basic vehicle safety checks
Ability to function as part of a team.
Good communication skills.
Ability to work under pressure and remain calm.

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) on our careers site.

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.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

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.

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

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email jamielea.wallis@essex.gov.uk

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