Job Description

Organisation

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Dial a Ride

Job

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Customer Care

Position Type

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Full Time

Please note:

Applying for this role means you have read and understood this advert and any associated links

.



This recruitment campaign is to recruit for a number of permanent opportunities as well as recruiting to a waitlist.


Due to the expected high response to these vacancies we reserve the right to close this campaign once we have a suitable pool of applicants, which could be prior to the published application closing date.

Salary:

The starting salary of is 33,180 for Monday to Friday day-time drivers and 39,953 for rostered drivers, who work a shift pattern which includes late finishes and weekends. There are incremental raises after the completion of probation and the completion of three year's service.



The salary during training is a flat rate of 31,134.

Closing date for applications: 23.59 hrs Sunday 11

th

May 2025.

About Us

Dial-a-Ride is a lifeline for many vulnerable people in London. It helps disabled and older passengers who are not able to use mainstream public transport to get around the Capital and is one of TfL's great success stories. Join this team and you'll be delivering a service with an outstanding reputation which has been running since 1980. The service helps nearly 40,000 members who make 0.6 million journeys a year. A typical day would see passengers dropped off at supermarkets, Bingo halls, luncheon clubs, respite centres and to visit friends and family.



Using accessible vehicles, as Dial a Ride Driver Attendant, you will be responsible for transporting passengers to and from designated points in a courteous and safe manner. You'll assist passengers who are less mobile by supporting them as required into, and out of, the vehicle, ensuring their mobility aids are safely secured and their shopping/personal effects are stowed.



It is a multi-occupancy service, so the driver will be responsible for making sure passengers are appropriately positioned on the bus, which is fully configurable to meet our passengers' various needs.



We are looking for enthusiastic, flexible and motivated people to join our transport team. This is a very rewarding role where you will have an opportunity to make a difference within the community. It is a lot more than just a driving job; good communication, empathy and willingness to engage with our passengers as they travel is essential.



This short video gives a real flavour of what it's like to work as one our Driver Attendants. As you can see, it's a role which calls for empathy and a real understanding of people with mobility issues.

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

For further information on the Key

Accountabilities and for the Skills, Knowledge and Experience for the role - please click onto the click bellow:



Dial a Ride Driver Key Accountabilities and SKEs



Please think carefully about the skills, knowledge and experience outlined and ensure your CV and cover letter reflects the requirements of the role you are applying for. Short listing will be carried out on the basis of answers to any pre-screening questions and the information on your CV and covering letter.

To be eligible to apply for this role you must:

Hold a full, clean D1 driving licence (or no more than 3 points), be over 21 with at least 2 years driving experience (desirable) or be willing to undergo and pass D1 licence training.

Need to be energetic and be able to work independently and successfully within a team

All successful applicants will also be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS Disclosure, full medical examination, a work-based fitness assessment, drug & alcohol testing, reference checks and relevant training

Shift Patterns:

Peak Hours

Five shifts per week rostered Monday to Friday between 08:00-18:00. The lengths of the shifts may vary slightly to suit business needs.

All Hours

Generally, five shifts per week though could occasionally be four but all with guaranteed 36 hours.



Shifts are rostered over Monday - Sunday between 06:00-00:00, the majority though are between 07:00-18:00

These vacancies will be based in one of the locations listed below. You will need to be flexible enough to work around these locations making allowances for your travel time to the location allocated.

The business will also be recruiting to a waitlist and therefore successful candidates may be placed on a waitlist until drivers are required at their preferred location.

East: Woodford Depot



North: Palmers Green Depot



West: North Wembley Depot



South: Wimbledon Depot and Elephant & Castle Depot



We will ask for your location preference throughout the recruitment process but cannot guarantee that we can accommodate these.



As a Dial a Ride Driver you will be given extensive City & Guilds Accreditation to include:


DATTS (Dial-a-Ride Assisted Transport Training)

Emergency First Aid

Dementia Awareness

In the Zone - Hazard Perception

Application Process

Please apply using your CV and a two page (maximum) covering letter.



As part of the application process for this position, you are required to upload both a CV and a Covering Letter to your application before submitting. To be compatible with our anonymisation software, these must be in Microsoft Word doc.x format. Failure to upload documents in this format means that they may not be processed. Applications with either CV or Covering Letter missing will be classed as incomplete and will not be progressed.


For this recruitment campaign, as part of TfL's continuing commitment to be an inclusive and equal opportunity employer we will be removing personal identifiable information from your application that could cause discrimination.

Assessment Process

The process consists of 4 stages including attending an Assessment Centre. You will need to pass each stage to progress to the next:

Stage 1: Online Application Form

As part of the application process you will be asked a number of screening questions, you will need to pass the pre-screening criteria to be eligible to go through to stage two. Please note you will need to upload a two page CV & Cover Letter.



Please ensure you answer these questions carefully and ensure you check your answers before you submit your application. Once your application has been submitted, you will be unable to edit your answers and your application will be declined if you do not meet the required criteria.

Stage 2: CV and cover letter screening

For this recruitment campaign, as part of TfL's continuing commitment to be an inclusive and equal opportunity employer we will be removing personal identifiable information from your application that could cause discrimination.

Stage 3: Assessment Centre - You will complete the following:

Customer interactive role play exercise

Competency based interview

You will need to produce your driving license in addition to a form of identification, and proof of right to work.

Stage 4: Physical Capabilities Test

Would be drivers will be asked to complete a Physical Capability Test (PCT) to evidence that they are suitable for the role. The test involves pushing a 16 stone (102 kg) weighted mannequin in a manual wheelchair a short distance to a Dial a Ride bus, then pushing the chair up a ramp and on to the vehicle. The test is designed to simulate the kind of task drivers complete numerous times on a daily basis.

Attending an Assessment Event

Please ensure:


You have an active email address where correspondence, invitations to assessment events and practice material can be sent.

All your contact details including phone numbers, address and email are updated and current on your application.

Campaign Timetable

The campaign is running to a very specific delivery timescale as determined by the business and there will only be enough slots for the number of candidates invited. Dates for the Assessment Centre will be opened on an ongoing basis, therefore if there are no slots available, please check again the following day. You are encouraged to schedule into an assessment event as early as possible. If you do not book an assessment, you will be withdrawn from the campaign.

Candidate Charter

You can download a copy of the Candidate Charter here.



This outlines our commitment to you as a candidate by providing insight into our recruitment process. It also outlines our expectations with regards to your engagement with us, to ensure that you receive the best recruitment experience possible, as we believe you should know the standards of service you can expect from us. You must read this document prior to submitting your application in order to understand every aspect of the process.

Reasonable Adjustment Process

If you require reasonable adjustments, you must notify the recruitment at least 48 hours (excluding weekends) prior to your scheduled assessment event to allow us to accommodate your requirements. You will then be sent a confirmation email which you will need to bring to your assessment. If you fail to bring this on the day your adjustments will not be granted, and you will be unable to re-book. We will consider that you are the expert regarding your own requirements, and we will consider all requests fairly within the context of the role.

Please note:

The online test is a timed test, therefore if you require any reasonable adjustments to be made in order to assist you, then you will need to advise us before you begin the test. Requests for reasonable adjustments cannot be made after the test has been started.



Please take the time to read the Disability Charter here.

Notice of Cancellation

We require you to give a minimum of 48 hours' notice of cancellation or re-schedule. Non-attendance at your Assessment Event may lead to your application being withdrawn.

Please note:

Your assessment may be rescheduled once only and reschedules will only be granted if there are assessment slots available, so please make sure you check you can make an appointment before booking. Subsequent cancellation may lead to your application being withdrawn. If you do not follow the process outlined in the Candidate Charter you risk being withdrawn from the campaign.

Outcomes

Outcomes for the assessment will be provided 10-14 days after your assessment event.

Appointment to post

In order to be appointed to a post, candidates must successfully pass an enhanced DBS check, reference checks, work-based fitness assessment, medical screening and a drug & alcohol test. Candidates who do not pass the medical screening will have their offer of employment withdrawn.



Although you may be successful & offered the role - you may not commence employment in the role or start training immediately. There may be a requirement to delay your start date until you are required.

Training

When you commence your employment, you will undergo a full-time training course which will take 4-6 weeks to complete including classroom-based training and depot training. You will receive a training salary until you successfully complete the training course.

Location

You will be assigned to a Depot dependant on where the business requirements are within our Dial a Ride network. Please note vacancies will most likely be in the north and west London area.

Contacting Us

If at any time you need to speak to anyone within the Recruitment Team, then please contact us on 0203 005 1680 (local rate charges from all phones including mobiles) or email HighVolumeCampaigns@tfl.gov.uk.

Excellent Benefits

In return for your commitment and expertise, you will enjoy excellent benefits and scope to grow. Rewards vary according to the business area but mostly include:


Final salary pension scheme Free travel for you on the TfL network A 75% reimbursement scheme on National Rail 25 days annual leave, rising to 30, exclusive of statutory holidays

Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme

Retail, health, leisure and travel offers

Discounted Eurostar travel

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria.We also use anonymising software that removes identifying information from CVs and cover letters to make the process fair.