School Transport Manager

Brighter Futures for Children

Full time, permanent post
 

 About us

Brighter Futures for Children is a not-for-profit company, owned by, but independent of, Reading Borough Council. Although we are independent, we are very much part of the Reading Family. Our people enjoy all of benefits as other Council employees including membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and continuous service. 

We work closely with partners in the local community and key organisations including Reading Borough Council, policy, public health and voluntary groups. We are responsible for the delivery of children’s social care, early help & prevention, education services (including SEND). This also includes fostering and adoption, the Youth Justice Service and traded services with schools.

Our main aim is to protect and enhance the lives of the children of Reading. We help families find long-term solutions to ensure children lead happy, healthy and successful lives.
 

About the role

The School Transport Manager will be responsible for ensuring that the School Transport Service delivers in line with statutory requirements and performs at high quality achieving the best possible value.

This is a rewarding and fast-paced role which will see you playing a crucial behind the scenes role in the journey of many children.

Key responsibilities will be:

• To manage Brighter Futures for Children’s (BFfC) School Transport Service including the procurement of transport for pupils and students attending schools and further education establishments.
• To procure all contracts for Brighter Futures for Children School Transport ensuring compliance with EU and British law, Reading Orders and BFfC Policies.
• To allocate contracts following the tendering process and ensure that the contractors comply with all relevant legislation and conditions of contracts through monitoring arrangements that may be in place.
• To undertake surveys to ensure provision of contract meet standards required and that vehicles and staff provided fulfil all legal requirements.
• To liaise with the various licensing departments reporting any breaches found on routes surveyed and to take appropriate action on any information received from licensing regarding contract breaches.
• To broker appropriate training courses for escorts and drivers in safeguarding, disability awareness and other necessary skills.
• To ensure the accurate assessment of entitlement to free School Transport funding for pupils attending mainstream schools in accordance with the prevailing and relevant legislation.
• To take appropriate action in line with the DPS framework with contractors for non-compliance with contractual requirements.
• To liaise with a wide range of people including Head Teachers, Reading Borough Council (RBC) Transport Strategists, Licensing services in RBC and in any other authority where an operator holds a contract to supply School Transport, The SEND Manager and The Service Manager for LDD and colleagues in neighbouring authorities on transport issues to benchmark and ensure best value at all times.
• To ensure that staff employed by transport operators with a contract to supply School Transport have an enhanced DBS check, have been trained and are badged as appropriate.
• To maintain the IT system to support the School Transport Service operation.

Our Offer:

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution
• Incremental holidays starting with 26 days plus public holidays (rising to 33 after 10 years’ service)
• Discounted Child Care (on site nursery)
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Season train ticket loans
• Salary Sacrifice Car Lease Scheme
• A range of local shopping discounts
• Remote/Agile working 

Inclusion and Diversity

We want Brighter Futures for Children to be a great place to work and to ensure that our children, young people and families are represented in leadership roles and positions of power. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and those of Other Ethnicities, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our children, young people and families so that equalities and justice remains at the heart of everything we do.

Asking for Adjustments

Brighter Futures for Children is committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and as accessible as possible for everyone. This includes making adjustments or changes for disabled people, neurodiverse people or people with long-term health conditions.

If you would like us to do anything differently during the application, interview or assessment process, including providing information in an alternative format, please let us know.

Closing date: 21 January 2024

Interview date: To be confirmed.

We look forward to hearing from you!