Enhanced Passenger Assistant

Description:

Leeds City Council is seeking Passenger Transport Enhanced Passenger Assistants to join its dedicated transport team that supports over 4,000 passengers daily. This role is crucial in providing a safe, supportive, and dignified transport service for vulnerable individuals including older people, children in care, and children, young people, and adults with learning, emotional, and physical difficulties.

As an Enhanced Passenger Assistant, you will be responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and wellbeing of passengers during transport. You will work alongside drivers, supporting passengers with a range of needs, from mobility assistance and personal care to communication support and emotional reassurance. This role requires a caring, approachable, and professional attitude, as you will be integral to passengers’ daily journeys to schools, colleges, and centers.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist passengers with safe boarding and disembarking from vehicles at both home and destination points.

• Ensure passenger wellbeing, conduct, and safety during journeys (which may last up to 1.5 hours).

• Attend to personal care needs, hygiene, and first aid requirements of passengers.

• Support passengers with complex medical conditions, providing emergency assistance if needed.

• Communicate effectively with passengers, including using alternative communication systems such as British Sign Language, PECS cards, or Makaton.

• Provide support for wheelchair users and ensure correct use of transport equipment.

• Protect and supervise passengers who may be at risk of self-harm or harm to others.

• Build positive relationships with passengers, families, carers, and colleagues, acting as a role model and maintaining inclusivity.

• Report concerns regarding passenger welfare to relevant officers, parents, carers, or school staff.

• Complete required reports and passenger information as directed.

• Supervise and support lower-grade passenger assistants when necessary.

• Participate in safeguarding, health and safety, and council policy compliance.

• Attend mandatory training sessions, including the PATS PLUS training course within six months of appointment.

Requirements

• Good communication skills and ability to work in a team.

• Approachable, caring, and flexible attitude.

• Physically fit to support passenger boarding and mobility needs.

• Availability to work split shifts (7–10am and 2–5pm, 16 hours weekly, term-time).

• Basic literacy and numeracy skills.

• Enhanced DBS clearance (against Children’s or Adults barred list as applicable).

• Willingness to undertake mandatory training and continuous development.

What Leeds City Council Offers

• Competitive salary with pro-rata annual leave entitlement and statutory holidays.

• Membership in the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions.

• Flexible working arrangements (subject to service requirements).

• Clear career progression pathway and ongoing professional development opportunities.

• A wide range of staff benefits to support wellbeing and financial savings.