Crew Chargehand - REQ003039

Job title: Crew Chargehand (driver)

Salary: C1 £33,006 - £35,804 (Including enhancements)

Hours: 37 per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Newmarket House

About the role:

It’s never been more important and rewarding to work in the world of waste and recycling!

Leeds City Council is proud of our refuse collection staff who deliver this crucial service to every household in the city every week. Each week we typically empty in the region of half a million bins! Only one other council in the whole of the UK collects from more households than us – and no other council collects more garden waste.

We achieve this through a dedicated team of front line staff who work in all conditions, mainly to empty the city’s black, green and brown bins.

Our ambition is to become the best refuse service in the UK – playing our part to support residents, our customers, in the responsible management of their waste.

We currently have a number of Crew Chargehand vacancies in the operational part of our service.

There is usually a Crew Chargehand (driver) and two Loaders on each crew, who work together to empty bins across collection routes. Your main role is to ensure all the bins that are presented for collection are safely emptied into the back of the wagon and then taken and placed neatly and safely back, and that any missed bins are recorded on the in cab units.

You will either be assigned to a crew that works a particular patch or be part of a “pool” to provide cover as and where required. Either way you need to be prepared to work in any part of Leeds, reporting for work at Newmarket House for a 6:30am start.

You will work the equivalent of a 37 hour week over the following shift cycle:

Week 1 - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Week 2 - Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Week 3 - Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday

About you (some key responsibilities):

As a Chargehand you will bring to the role:

You will hold a minimum of a LGV Class C licence and an up to date Driver CPC card (DCPD). You will be an experienced LGV Class 2 driver with a demonstratable driving history. If you do not hold this category of license and CPC please do not apply.
An ability to supervise, support and coordinate a team of staff including the day to day allocation of tasks and ensuring all work is being carried out in a safe and effective manner
An ability to keep accurate records using in cab technology (training is provided) and written records of missed collections and the specific addresses /streets and the reasons why, damaged bins etc
Able to provide support to the Team Leaders in dealing with any collection issues for example identifying and suggesting solutions to regular access issues, how to increase recycling rates, dealing with problems caused by side waste/overflowing bins etc and to help respond to customer complaints
Committed to promoting and displaying positive behaviours, and an understanding of why equality diversity and inclusion is so important.

What we offer you:

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

We've built an inclusive place to work, where everyone is welcomed, feels valued and can truly be their authentic self at work. We want our people to be the best they can be, no matter who they are and where they come from. It is important we have a workforce representative of the communities we serve. We have made significant improvements within our management/supervisory posts, however our operational part remains largely unrepresentative. We are therefore particularly keen to receive applications from women and ethnically diverse groups.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

How to apply:

You can apply now via the apply for this job button and completing the online application form.

We may close online applications early if we receive a high volume of applicants.

Interviews are due to be held week commencing Monday 2nd March at Newmarket House, Newmarket Approach, LS9 0RJ.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose

To be responsible for the safe and responsible driving and operation of a household waste collection/refuse wagon so that the crew assigned to that vehicle for the day are able to deliver the required service for customers. To provide a lead role in the crew; supporting the Team Leader by supervising the crew’s daily operations and ensuring any issues that arise during the day are effectively dealt with, so residents of Leeds receive an excellent and reliable, publicly delivered, household waste collection service

Responsibilities

To lead on understanding and following the collection route/tasks assigned for each day’s work and ensure completion to level of quality required – for example that assisted collections/wheel-outs are completed, access problems are safely overcome where possible and empty bins are returned in a safe and neat position.

To be part of and supervise/co-ordinate a small team (typically a crew of 2-3) including the day to day allocation of tasks/duties and ensuring work is being conducted in a safe and effective manner. To maintain a duty of care to colleagues at crew level.

To be responsible for ensuring you and all assigned crew members have the correct Personal and Protective Equipment (PPE)/training to undertake the daily duties expected and required by Health and Safety procedures of the Service. Including responsibility that requests for replacement PPE or further training requirements are reported through in a timely manner

To ensure the daily tasks allocated are completed in a satisfactory and efficient manner. Including responsibility for ‘ringing in’ at end of service to report that allocated route/task list is complete and to request permission for loaders to leave vehicle/site.

To work together with other crew chargehands under the guidance of the Team Leaders to operate the ‘Buddy system’ and cover ‘slippage’ to ensure there are no missed collections by the end of the scheduled day and that any recovery work is prioritised and picked up within the standard 48 hours.

You will be responsible for ensuring the main in-cab recording system (currently Bartec) is operational at all times and where it is not that is reported immediately.

You will be responsible for ensuring accurate input/recording of all necessary information on the in-cab system is being done; for example crew check-ins, missed collections and the reasons for the non-collection, damaged bins etc.

To provide support to the Team Leader in dealing with waste presentation and collection issues facing the neighbourhoods in which the team is operating. For example helping identify and suggest solutions to regular access issues (such as information on illegally parked vehicles blocking roads), increasing recycling rates, dealing with problems caused by side-waste/overflowing bins, contaminated bins and households with excess number of bins.

To work under the guidance of a Team Leader in ensuring that the resources available are being deployed in the most effective way, which includes following instructions by your Team Leader/Manager as required.

To help resolve customer complaints, working positively with Team Leaders and responding to customers on site where appropriate.

You will ensure you and your crew abide by and work within the values and behaviours expected by the Council. You and your crew will be courteous to colleagues and members of the public at all times and provide a customer focused service.

Responsibility for the condition and cleanliness of your allocated vehicle; which includes vehicle checks, required routine maintenance (for example oil and water checks) keeping the vehicle in a good clean condition between specialist cleaning. You must report any vehicle defects noticed throughout the course of the day.

You will be responsible for supervising the correct and safe use by the crew of any technology, such as mobile phones, following related procedures

At all times you will drive safely following the Highway Code and as per statutory/legal requirements and be responsible for ensuring all relevant Health and Safety regulations and safe working practices are observed and complied with by the crew; for example Safer Working Instructions 19a and 19b (reversing procedures)

You will follow disposal site rules when tipping off - this includes going to the allocated sites for tipping off or alternatives as directed.

When not driving, and where practical and safe to do so, secure the vehicle and assist in the collection of waste. This may include for example wheeling out container bins, bagging out, or pulling out normal wheeled bins where required. Examples of where this is likely to be appropriate include emptying large containers at high rise blocks and on routes where there is a bagged collection in place.

Report any appropriate operational issues to management, using technologies where able to.

Ensure a high quality service is delivered through responding positively to queries and working well in partnership with internal and external partners including the back office team, contact centre, route development and project teams.

You will work in a supportive environment as part of a wider customer contact team including “back-office” staff, service development staff and contact centre colleagues to ensure a high quality, customer focused public service is delivered.

You will attend training courses as necessary and demonstrate a commitment to keeping up to date with skills and knowledge through self-development.

When available for overtime, you will comply with the overtime protocol.

You will abide by the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy in the duties of the post, and as an employee of the Council.

You will take personal responsibility for and abide by the Council’s Health and Safety Policy.

You will undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade, as required

Qualifications

LGV Licence Class C (equivalent to HGV Class 2). Appointment subject to passing driver assessment

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

Ability to understand verbal and written instructions and follow daily work patterns
Ability to work as part of a team
Ability to manipulate wheel bins and operate lift mechanisms
Ability to identify and report vehicle defects
Ability to use mobile phones and other in-cab technology such as Bartec
Ability to learn new information and instructions
Ability to work in an area based team showing initiative and understanding of the impact of the work carried out
Ability to work with minimal supervision to ensure completion of assigned daily tasks by the crew
Ability to supervise, co-ordinate and support staff to get the best out of them
LGV Licence Class C (equivalent to HGV Class 2)
Subject to passing driver assessment
Knowledge of the importance of dealing with members of the public in a polite and courteous manner
Awareness of the current Highway Code
Experience of driving HGV vehicles
Willingness to undertake further training
To wear appropriate clothing as required

Essential Behavioural and other Characteristics

Willing to abide by the service’s behavioural standards
Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Be aware of and be able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all, working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

Knowledge of Health and Safety procedures
Knowledge of Quality Assurance procedures
Knowledge of the Local Authority
Experience of working in a similar environment
Experience of using equipment manual/mechanical
Experience of working with interruption which may distract
Experience of staff supervision and/or organising the work of others

Date Job description last reviewed:

17/7/24 David Bowers HRBP No change, amended on new template

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