Independent Trainer

About Us

At Oxfordshire County Council (OCC), our Supported Travel Service plays a vital role in keeping communities across the county connected, independent and involved.

Every day, a dedicated team of around 200 staff members supports the journeys and travel of approximately 10,000 residents, using a blend of more than 70 in‑house fleet vehicles and over 800 contracted vehicles. The service arranges and delivers a wide range of safe, efficient and reliable travel solutions, including home‑to‑school and SEND transport, independent travel training, personal travel budgets, community and public transport schemes, and essential journeys for children and adults social care.

Our core commitment is to provide alternative, safe and efficient travel solutions that empower people of all ages to access education, care, and social opportunities. Placing residents and their communities at the heart of everything we do, we focus on enhancing access, enabling participation and improving quality of life. Safeguarding is central to our mission, with all journeys underpinned by robust assurance, professional training and a culture of dignity and respect.

Through practical, community‑centred solutions, our service ensures that Oxford shires residents can travel confidently and safely, whatever their needs.

This is an exciting time to be joining the team as we shape and embed new ways of working to support high‑quality supported travel services.

Imagine a job where every step you take helps a young person take one of their own. A job where you witness breakthroughs, celebrate milestones, and play a pivotal role in shaping someones independence for life. At Oxfordshire County Council, we are searching for inspiring and dedicated Independent Travel Trainers to work alongside SEND children and young people across Oxfordshire to help them build the courage, skills, and self‑belief needed to travel safely and independently.

It is so much more than a training role; it’s your chance to genuinely empower young people, bring families closer together, and help create a more inclusive, confident, and connected Oxfordshire. You’ll see the difference you make, each and every day as young people conquer anxieties, master new routes, and embrace independence with pride.

• Empower young people by guiding them in developing real‑world travel skills, giving them the confidence to move forward independently.
• Design and deliver tailored learning programmes that reflect each person’s unique needs, strengths and aspirations.
• Work hand‑in‑hand with families, carers, education settings, and multi‑agency teams to champion the life‑changing benefits of independent travel.
• Provide hands‑on support through journey planning, personalised risk assessments, and live journey shadowing, celebrating every milestone along the way.
• Play an active part in the wider inclusion and SEND strategies, helping build a community where everyone can access education, employment, and social opportunities.

Through your efforts, young people will not only gain the practical skills to travel safely – road safety, use of public transport, time management – but also the self‑assurance to embrace new opportunities beyond the journey itself. You’ll work with a high level of autonomy, managing your own caseload, scheduling training, and adapting your approach to meet each young person’s needs.

Recording progress, responding swiftly to safeguarding or logistical issues, and always putting the individual at the centre of your work, you’ll be at the heart of a supportive team striving for excellence and continuous improvement.

This is a uniquely rewarding opportunity for someone who thrives on human connection, believes in social inclusion, and is driven by making a real and lasting difference. Join us, and help give Oxford shires young people the confidence to move forward one journey at a time.

• Experience working with children and adults with Special Educational Needs and/or Disability.
• Experience of working with children and young adults in a formal setting, including the need to deal with and communicate with service users who have…