NHSCT_Driver with Caring Duties_Band 3

Advertised role location: Mid Ulster Hosp Site: M'felt Adult Ctr
Official document: Driver with Caring Duties Band 3 - Magherafelt Adult Centre (docx)
Driver with Caring Duties
Job Description

Driver with Caring Duties
Job Description


The Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT) is responsible for the delivery of safe and effective health and social care (HSC) services to the population of the Northern Trust area in Northern Ireland.
We provide compassionate care with our community in our community. In order to do this we require the commitment of a highly skilled and professional workforce that meets the need of the service.
The diagram below outlines our values and our objectives which support the delivery of compassionate care within our community.

The below diagram details the values and associated behaviours that we expect staff working within Health and Social Care (HSC) to display at all times;

HSC Value
What does this mean?
What does this look like in practice? - Behaviours

Working Together

We work together for the best outcome for people we care for and support. We work across Health and Social Care and with other external organisations and agencies, recognising that leadership is the responsibility of all.


I work with others and value everyone’s contribution
I treat people with respect and dignity
I work as part of a team looking for opportunities to support and help people in both my own and other teams
I actively engage people on issues that affect them
I look for feedback and examples of good practice, aiming to improve where possible

Compassion

We are sensitive, caring, respectful and understanding towards those we care for and support and our colleagues. We listen carefully to others to better understand and take action to help them and ourselves.


I am sensitive to the different needs and feelings of others and treat people with kindness
I learn from others by listening carefully to them
I look after my own health and well-being so that I can care for and support others


Excellence

We commit to being the best we can be in our work, aiming to improve and develop services to achieve positive changes. We deliver safe, high-quality, compassionate care and support.
I put the people I care for and support at the centre of all I do to make a difference
I take responsibility for my decisions and actions
I commit to best practice and sharing learning, while continually learning and developing
I try to improve by asking ‘could we do this better?’

Openness & Honesty

We are open and honest with each other and act with integrity and candour.

I am open and honest in order to develop trusting relationships
I ask someone for help when needed
I speak up if I have concerns
I challenge inappropriate or unacceptable behaviour and practice


JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE: Driver with Caring Duties
BAND: 3
DIRECTORATE/DIVISION: Nursing, Paediatrics, Womens & Corporate Support Services
INITIAL LOCATION: Magherafelt Adult Centre, Magherafelt
REPORTS TO: Transport Services Manager
ACCOUNTABLE TO: Assistant Director Corporate Support Services
JOB SUMMARY:
To support the Trust in the delivery of a high quality service within the Transport Department.


KEY RESULT AREAS / MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
Provide transport for adults with complex needs, including learning and / or physical disabilities and for older people, to and from Trust Day service facilities

Carry out daily routine maintenance of their vehicle and minor repairs
(including checking fuel oil, water levels and topping up as required, tyre
pressures, vehicle cleaning, etc.)

Convey clients to centres, for educational classes, outings, shopping, etc,

Operate tail lifts on vehicles where provided, after training.

Complete any records in relation to the performance/usage of the vehicle per
journey e.g. miles travelled, petrol used, oil replaced, patient/clients carried,
loading etc. The information required would vary with the type of vehicle and will
be subject to change in the light of development.
Daily completion and monthly return of vehicle log sheets.
Secure clients travelling in wheelchairs with the recommended restraint device.
Any other duties relevant to the post.

Portering Responsibilities

Such responsibilities will be those associated with the driving duties referred to above e.g. loading and unloading vehicles, delivery of goods to departments etc.
Collect and deliver food supplies (including meals in containers) and materials (including beds, bedding furniture, equipment, CSSD Pharmacy stores items, laundry etc.,) as required by management.

Caring Responsibilities

Where necessary, assist service users in any manner possible with regard to their need e.g. preparation for transit to and from centres and functions.
Assist clients, including those in wheelchairs and those who walk with assistance of mobility aids, when necessary i.e. boarding/alighting vehicle and an outing/educational visits.
Provide immediate minor first-aid to passengers on the vehicle if required. (Drivers are not required to hold a first-aid certificate)
Assist at day care facilities, functions and outings as required e.g. serving meals, under supervision of day care staff.
Assist in the evacuation of adults and children and provide transport back –up to the ambulance service in emergency situations.




GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Employees of the Trust will be 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

At all times demonstrate practice the HSC values of Working Together, Excellence, Openness & Honesty and Compassion

Carry out their duties and responsibilities in a manner which assures patient and client safety

Comply with all instructions in regard to Infection Prevention and Control

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 health and safety policy and statutory regulations

Adhere to equal opportunities policy throughout the course of their employment

Ensure the ongoing confidence of the public in service provision

Adhere to the Code of Conduct for HSC Employees which aims to guide staff, managers and employers in the work that they do and the decisions and choices they have to make. Professional staff are expected to follow the code of conduct for their own professions as well as this code.

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 the NHSCT Raising Concerns Policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.



RECORDS MANAGEMENT
All employees of the Northern Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Northern 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 Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant and to comply with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust policies on Information Governance including (for example) the ICT Security Policy, Data Quality and Data Protection Policy and Records Management Policy and to seek advice if in doubt.

SALARY

£24,071 - £25,674 per annum (pro-rata for part-time)
HOURS
Normal full-time hours of duty are 37½ hours per week, exclusive of meal times

MEDICAL
Appointment will be subject to a successful pre-employment health assessment.
HOLIDAYS
27 days each year; 29 days after 5 years’ service; 33 days after 10 years’ service and 10 statutory and public holidays. Annual Leave must be taken when the Adult/Day Centre is closed during the following: Easter, July, Christmas and any other closure days

PENSION
The post-holder can participate in the Health Social Care Pension Scheme.
NORTHERN TRUST BENEFITS
You can explore the benefits on offer to you in the Northern Trust by clicking here
PROBATIONARY PERIOD
You will serve a probationary period of normally six months.
WAITING LIST
A Waiting list may be compiled for similar permanent/temporary, full/part time posts which may arise within the next 12 months.
PAY PROTECTION
Legacy Trust Staff who apply for a promotion after 1 April 2011 should be aware that they will lose their legacy protection arrangements and will be entitled to pay protection in accordance with circular HSS (JNF)(1) 2011. This circular will also apply to legacy staff who are currently in receipt of protection and who move post on promotion.
This circular will also apply to legacy staff who are currently in receipt of protection and who move post on promotion.

CLOSING DATE

Completed application forms should be returned to the BSO Recruitment and Selection Shared Services Centre, Rosewood Villa, Longstone Hospital, 73 Loughgall Road, Armagh BT61 7PR on or before the closing date as stated in the advertisement.

Canvassing, either directly or indirectly, will be an absolute disqualification.

We will review this Job Description and it may include any other duties and responsibilities we determine in consultation with the jobholder. We do not intend it to be rigid and inflexible but rather to provide guidelines within which the jobholder works.

September 2025


PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

Title of Post: Driving with Caring Duties
Band of Post: 3
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 in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.
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.
Volunteering experience may be considered appropriate in particular for roles within the context of direct patient/client care.
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA


SECTION 1: 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

Experience


Qualifications/ Registration
Experience not essential as training will be provided.

Current full driving licence valid for use in the UK with full Category D unrestricted driving entitlement. Full unrestricted Category D driving entitlement means entitlement to drive a manually operated passenger-carrying vehicle with more than 16 seats)

PLUS

Must hold the Driver CPC qualification card valid until at least 2027 OR if card expiry is before 2027, then evidence that 21 hours CPC training has been completed.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Other
Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment. This criteria will be waived in the case of applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a form of transport approved by the Trust which will permit them to carry out the duties of the post
Shortlisting by Application Form

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/ selection stage:

Skills / Abilities
Successfully complete Trust driving test.

Interview / Test
Trust Transport Department will administer driving test for the successful candidate in a suitable Trust vehicle

Knowledge
Be aware of needs of Adults with learning and physical disabilities and of older people and demonstrate knowledge of caring role

Knowledge of Northern Health and Social Care Trust

Interview / Test

Value Based Recruitment
Value Based Recruitment is a process adopted by the Northern Trust to attract and select employees on the basis that their individual values and behaviours align with those of the Trust.
It focuses on the ‘how’ and ‘why’ people do what they do.
Candidates who are short-listed for interview will need to demonstrate at interview that they have the required knowledge, skills, competencies and values to be effective in this new role.
In answering the value based questions you have the opportunity to share examples of when you have demonstrated values relevant to the Northern Trust.

Criminal Offences, Investigations and Charges
Having a criminal record will not necessarily debar you from working with the Trust. This will depend on the nature of the position, together with the circumstances and background of your offences or other information contained on a disclosure certificate. If you require further information or a copy of the policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders, please contact the Trust Human Resources Department

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the Trust to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.

THE NHSCT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER
Successful applicants:
may be required to attend for a Health Assessment
can expect to be placed at the minimum point of the pay scale, although a higher starting salary, within the range of the pay band may be available if the person appointed has experience relevant & equivalent to the post. If the successful candidate is an existing HSC employee moving to a higher band, AfC Pay on Promotion will apply.
have the right to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment. A number of flexible working provisions are offered by all HSC Organisations including Full-time working, Fixed working patterns, Part-time working, Flexi-time, Compressed/elongated hours, Average hours working patterns, Term-time working, Job-share or Homeworking for some or all of the working pattern, depending on the role being undertaken. Successful applicants are encouraged to discuss with their manager what Flexible Working provisions may be available in the role they are taking up, prior to commencing employment, to help them achieve a positive Work/Life Balance
September 2025