Vehicle Driver

We are The Forward Trust (formerly RAPt and Blue Sky), the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often-interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.

We believe and are committed to providing opportunities to all people including those with 'Lived Experience' we encourage applications from all background including those in recovery from addiction, co-dependency or gambling, have experience of previous offending or homelessness.

What you will be doing

SHARP is a community-based rehabilitation programme, for individuals with alcohol or drug addictions. Clients attend the service on a daily basis for abstinence-based, interpersonal group therapy. The service has centres, based in Braintree and Wickford and all clients are offered free travel to and from the centres each day.

As a way to keep down taxi costs we use our own vehicle to bring in a s many people as is practical in one journey, with a driver who will collect them on an agreed route at specified times. This route will vary depending upon where clients live and may be to take clients to and from either site, depending on demand.

• To drive the vehicle, usually kept at Wickford, to collect and return clients as directed across Essex attending the SHARP programme at either Braintree or Wickford.


• Correct care and use of the vehicle, including regular visual checks of the vehicle for defects, ensuring that all regulatory and mechanical appointments are kept, eg service and MOT, as arranged by the Senior Administrator.


• Safe transport of clients that use the Wickford minibus, ensuring that all clients are collected and/or returned to the specified address.


• Maintenance of client confidentiality and clear professional boundaries during journeys.


• Awareness of when to relay any issues of note or concern, discussed by clients on the journey, to the relevant Lead Practitioner or Administrator at the centre.


• To follow all the rules and regulations relating to use of the roads, reporting any incidents or issues that might arise during a journey in a full and timely manner.


• To collect or return clients from/to their home address as directed by the Senior Administrator and bring to the Wickford centre.


• Ensure that, as far is reasonably practicable, all scheduled timings are adhered to.


• Alert the Lead Practitioner or Senior Administrator to any concerns/issues arising out of these journeys.


• To drive the minibus for any appropriate FT event or activity at the direction of the Service Manager or Senior Administrator.


• Ensure adherence at all times to all health and safety guidelines relating to the use of the minibus, and ensure that any replacement items required are reported to the Senior Administrator immediately.


• To keep the minibus clean and tidy, fuel and oil topped up, ensure all necessary logbooks are kept in good order and up-to-date, and report any defects immediately to the Senior Administrator.
  
  A minimum of 2 years' driving experience


• Experience of adhering to health & safety legislation, policies and procedures


• Experience of reporting accidents/incidents in accordance with policies and procedures


• Hold a full, clean standard UK category B Driving Licence and hold the Driving Licence for a minimum of 2 years


• Previous experience of driving passengers


• Open and non-judgemental attitude to clients and their families
  
  Training and development opportunities


• Flexible working


• Simply Health Cashback Scheme (Optional)


• £90 per month External Therapy Allowance


• Season Ticket Loan Scheme


• Cycle to work scheme


• Crisis Loan Scheme


• Electric Car Scheme


• 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata'd for part time employees)


• Access to Blue Light Card


• 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays


• Contributory Pension Scheme - Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years' service and up to 9% thereafter


• Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)


• Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)