Driver - Carlisle
Job Description
Job summary
Cumbria Health is seeking a reliable and professional Driver to join our Carlisle team, providing essential transport support for medical personnel delivering out-of-hours patient care. The position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to patient care by ensuring clinicians can reach those in need safely and efficiently.
We have an average of 23 hours per week available across a rolling 12 week rota - including evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays.
Why Work with Us?
At Cumbria Health, we value our team and offer a supportive, inclusive work environment. Benefits of working with us include:
- A flexible work-life balance
- Access to high-quality training and professional development opportunities.
- The chance to make a real difference in your community by supporting essential healthcare services.
Closing Date:03 April 2025
Interview date: TBC
Take the opportunity to join a dynamic team where your contributions directly enhance patient outcomes across the region.
Main duties of the job
- Safely driving medical professionals to patient locations during out-of-hours services.
- Conducting pre- and post-shift vehicle checks, maintaining readiness, and ensuring all equipment is operational.
- Communicating effectively with team members, including clinicians, control room staff, and team leaders.
- Adhering to high standards of confidentiality, data protection, and Cumbria Health's organisational values.
- Supporting the clinician during visits, which may include assisting with equipment or acting as a chaperone.
- Operating in varied conditions across Cumbria, utilising 4x4 vehicles for reliability in all weather.
At all times, Cumbria Health will deliver a service that is in line with our values:
Clinically Focussed: Everything every one of us does is for the patient
Responsive: We listen and we respond quickly in a patient focussed way
One Team: We work together to provide a high quality service which is organised and consistent, and in partnership with both the local Acute and Community Trusts
High Standards: We provide skilled professionals working to the highest standards who are passionate about improving patient care
Growth & Sustainability : With our strong roots we will continue to thrive and grow
Communities : Connecting and engaging to meet local needs
About us
Cumbria Health places the patient, their family and their community at the heart of everything we do. We are an award-winning organisation, the first out-of-hours organisation in the country to be rated as outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
We provide primary health care services, both in and out of hours, across Cumbria. We are values-driven and place great emphasis on inclusivity and the wellbeing and development of our staff, while striving to provide a consistently high-quality service. Our service is designed to improve health and wellbeing.
Working for Cumbria Health can offer flexible opportunities in terms of location, hours and working patterns so you can enjoy a great work life balance. In order to provide the best patient care we understand the importance of ensuring staff satisfaction and are consistently trying to ensure we offer our staff a positive working environment whether that be though training or social events.
Listen to your heart. Have the work life balance you'd love.
Job responsibilities
This list of duties and responsibilities, which follows, represents the broad range of tasks which may be required to be undertaken either routinely or periodically. This list is not exhaustive and the role may include additional duties which are not listed here.
1. Ensure you are fit to drive and meet all driver authorisation requirements throughout your employment. In line with the DVLAs guidance for drivers 70 and over, Cumbria Health will require all drivers who meets this criteria to undergo a driver medical/sight test (DVLA Standard) as part of the recruitment process or annually over 70 where required.
2. Read and be fully aware of the content of the Driver Handbook.
3. Maintain full responsibility for the vehicle, contents and passengers whilst on duty.
4. Ensure all technology is fully functioning and fully charged for the shift, regularly checking the items are stored safely, charged and updated where necessary.
5. Carry out thorough pre-shift checks, equipment checks and restock if required.
6. Assist in the set-up of the clinical rooms at the beginning of shift if required. You may also be required to check the rooms at the end of shift and ensure Cumbria Health equipment has been returned to store.
7. Drive the clinician to home visits, meeting the needs of patients in the out-of-hours period.
8. Ensure the rules of the road are followed, utilising all available vehicle and Webfleet systems, to ensure safe driving is maintained throughout.
9. During shift answer and make calls to the control room by various communication methods, always remember the legal position whilst driving.
10. Assist in completing patient contact forms where applicable for control and clinicians in the event of technology failure.
11. Assist the clinician as and when necessary including assisting with equipment, chaperoning (as per policy), and communications with control.
12. Alerting Emergency Services in the event of an emergency, following guidance from the clinician.
13. Monitor the prescription pad for the vehicle following the Cumbria Health Prescription guidance. You may also be required to assist in the topping up and management of printer prescriptions following guidance.
14. Assist in the transfer, countersigning and transport of Controlled Drugs.
15. Ensure effective handover with the oncoming shift (incl. driver colleagues, clinicians, receptionists and control room supervisor).
16. Carry out post-shift checks and restock if required.
17. Follow up Left Equipment when not required for visits.
18. Ensure clear and concise communications with your Team Leader are maintained through various communication methods including where appropriate the site communications log.
19. During shift, after consultation with the control room Supervisor, travel and work across the County wherever and whenever needed to meet the demands of the service.
20. Support the Team Leader in the day to day management and maintenance of the base.
21. Regularly log into your email account and familiarise yourself with the Cumbria Health policies/forms and other important information on the website.
22. To carry out any other reasonable duties in departments/locations as and when required, subject to training and capabilities.
23. To adhere to all Cumbria Health Policies and Procedures.
24. Participate and ensure own on-going development, maintaining compliance for mandatory training.
25. To maintain a high level of confidentiality and comply with the Data Protection Act. Be aware of the nature of information dealt with and work in a manner which ensures confidentiality and security at all times.
26. Undertake any other activities deemed appropriate and necessary by the organisation.
Person Specification
Other requirements
Essential
- Full driving licence
- Understanding of GDPR and importance of confidentiality
- Must be available to work unsocial hours, including nights, weekends and festive periods
Skills and Aptitudes
Essential
- Active/attentive listening
- Calm and confident telephone manner
- Ability to record information quickly and accurately
- Experience of following guidelines and working protocols in a professional manner
- Excellent communication skills
- Confidence to work within a multidisciplinary
- team fostering positive working relationships with a variety of individuals from Cumbria Health and other agencies.
- Ability to work as part of a team and as a lone worker when necessary
Qualifications
Essential
- Maths and English grade C or equivalent
Desirable
- Advanced driving qualification
- Safe driving qualification
- Driver training qualification
Experience
Essential
- Experienced and competent driver
- Experience of vehicle checks, vehicle management, basic knowledge of car maintenance
- Basic computer skills and the confidence to use or learn the use of new technologies
- General knowledge of the local area
Desirable
- Experience of driving ...
