Driving Assessor
Job overview
Are you a fully qualified Approved Driving Instructor wanting a new challenge? We have a vacancy of 37.5 hours per week,This is a fantastic opportunity to join our friendly, supportive team of Occupational Therapists (OTs) and ADIs and become a Driving Assessor for Derby DrivAbility where we assess a person's medical fitness to drive and the need for driving adaptations.
Having experience of different health conditions e.g. dementia, stroke, learning disability will be really helpful.
Meeting the challenge of becoming a driving assessor will involve you learning new skills, adapting your approach by reducing coaching and only intervening at safety critical times. If you have experience of driver improvement training or providing refresher lessons to drivers this will be beneficial in understanding the range of normal driving behaviours of full licence holders and the effects of the driver's medical condition.
Our role is to establish if a person will be able to continue / resume driving, or learn to drive. You’ll get to see the smiles and celebrations when you give good news but you’ll also need excellent communication skills and calm manner to explain your findings when we deliver disappointing news such as when someone is no longer safe to drive or if driving is not a possibility.
Main duties of the job
You will become familiar with and implement the various policies and processes relating to our service and the Trust, the DVLA and their standards of medical fitness to drive and Driving Mobility who accredit our service.
Each assessment is completed by an ADI and OT. You will complete an eyesight check and undertake a driving licence check electronically or by phone. You will observe the interview process and then prepare the paperwork and vehicle required, in conjunction with the OT.
Although we use standardised routes each assessment will be different, requiring a tailored approach as many clients will be anxious and /or have additional needs such as hearing loss, communication difficulties or mobility restrictions. We use standard assessment routes as part of the process and have a range of manual and automatic vehicles.You will receive full training to enable you to meet the needs of the role.
You will need excellent communication skills and be able to produce short but factual, clear, computer generated reports within tight time frames. Working under pressure is integral to the role and you will need to be fit and able to take control of a vehicle and assist, if necessary, the driver to get in/out of the vehicle.
The post holder will, at times, be expected to work from one of our outreach centres; these are currently based in Newark and Stoke on Trent.
Closing date of applications: 23 February 2025Date of interview: 10 March 2025
Working for our organisation
As a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing Exceptional Care Together
Our fundamental Values of Compassion, Openness and Excellence underpin how we intend to work as a Trust and the associated behaviours are becoming embedded in all aspects of how we work.
In return we will offer:
- Development opportunities, including both professional and leadership development
- On-going support through every step of the way from recruitment to when you join our team and beyond.
- A variety of other staff benefits including employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, onsite fitness classes, car schemes
Key Facts about our Trust:
- We see on average 4810 OP appointments per day.
- We are the 4^th busiest Trauma & Orthopaedic outpatients department in England – an average of 2077 per week.
- An average of 1115 patients are seen in A&Es across our network every day – 3rd largest in the country.
- Our hospitals admit an average of 195 emergency patients daily.
- Last year we undertook almost 33,700 planned surgical operations in our 57 operating theatres.
- We are one of only 7 Trusts nationally with more than 50 operating theatres.
- We carry out more than 140 elective procedures each working day.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see attached Job description and Person Specification. To apply please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB – this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not already have an account.
Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click on the link to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorship Impacts of the changes to the UK immigration policy | NHS Employers
Person specification
Instructor Experience
Essential criteria- Approved Driving Instructor with current badge
- Proven experience with range of novices
- Demonstrates ability to adapt approach to needs of client
- Driver improvement training
- Recent Additional training
- Additional driving training qualifications eg RoSPA,
Communication / Team work
Essential criteria- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Demonstrates experience communicating with vulnerable people, being caring, empathetic and compassionate
- Demonstrates excellent team working skills and behaviours
- Demonstrates the ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
- Experience having difficult conversations with patients/clients
Ad hoc
Essential criteria- Demonstrates strong interest / desire to explore a new challenge
- Competent using computers and different IT systems (including Microsoft Office) to write reports
- Demonstrates experience and willingness to work flexibly
- Demonstrates an understanding of the purpose of Driving Mobility and the value this adds
- Experience of some medical conditions which might affect someone's ability to drive safely