TAS Badging - General Information
Applying for a badge
All applicants who want to be Drivers and Passenger Assistants must be at least 18 years old, be able to understand written and spoken English as well as speak fluent English.
All applicants must have lived in the United Kingdom (UK) for at least 5 years to ensure that we have a five-year criminal background check on applicants due to the vulnerability of the passengers that the service transports. If applicants cannot prove this, we will be unable to process the application.
Where TAS are undertaking your initial enhanced DBS check - If you were born outside the UK, your passport or driving licence must show you have resided here for at least 5 years.
If your current passport does not cover a 5-year period, please produce your previous passport too. If you are no longer in possession of your expired passport you will need to produce documentation that shows entry clearance into the UK. If applicants cannot prove this, we will be unable to process the application.
If you already have an enhanced DBS check, you can provide this to demonstrate that these background and residency checks have been completed – for this, TAS will need to see your original (not a copy/scan/print-out) enhanced DBS certificate.
It is the responsibility of your operator to confirm that you have the right to remain and work in the UK. You can get more information on the Gov Uk Prove your right to work webpage.
You cannot work on TAS contracts without undergoing an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which covers both children and adults.
You must be signed up to the Update Service with the ‘auto renewal’ option. If an applicant is not on the Update Service, the application may not be processed.
The cost of an enhanced DBS check is £60 per applicant and if one is undertaken on your behalf your transport operator will be invoiced this cost following your appointment.
The Disclosure and Barring Service has made significant changes to their system in order to accurately reflect the filtering legislation.
For a small number of Drivers and Passenger Assistants this will mean they will be issued with a manual certificate.
Unfortunately, manual certificates cannot be linked to the Update Service Subscription.
For Drivers or Passenger Assistants who receive a manual DBS certificate, Travel Assistance Service will accept the certificate and a TAS badge will be issued as per our criteria.
Prior to the expired date of the TAS badge, a renewal / new application must be submitted to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
No extension will be given on TAS badges whilst the application is being processed with the Disclosure and Barring Service.
The cost of the application to the Disclosure and Barring Service will be invoiced to the contractor.
Training infomation
As part of your application process, you will be expected to undertake training as directed by TAS.
This includes (but it not limited to) the TAS Transport Staff Training Course and the SMBC Level 1 combined safeguarding, child protection and child exploitation awareness course.
The SMBC TAS Transport Staff Training course provides the foundation knowledge for any individual wishing to complete duties on TAS contracts.
Covering the basics of the role and what you can expect when working as a passenger assistant/driver, the course also delivers information relating to disability awareness, safe evacuation procedures, safeguarding awareness and reporting methods, and all other information relevant to working as a passenger assistant/driver on TAS contracts.
This online course is split into four chapters, with each chapter focusing on a different aspect of your role as a passenger assistant/driver.
The course begins with an introduction, which will explain the course objectives. You will be asked to confirm whether you understand what the course entails. You will then move onto the main part of the course. Each chapter has 10 multiple choice questions, of which 9 must be answered correctly before you are able to continue to the next chapter.
The overall pass-rate is 36/40, and you must achieve this score to be issued a certificate. If you do not score 36 or more out of 40, you will get one further chance to complete the course. If on the second attempt you are unable to achieve a pass, you will be required to wait a period of 3 months before reapplying.
The SMBC Level 1 combined safeguarding, child protection and child exploitation awareness course outlines the basic knowledge, skills and understanding of safeguarding and child protection required to work on TAS contracts.
The test is made up of twelve questions and you are required to achieve a score of at least eleven out of twelve to pass, you are allowed up to two attempts.
If you fail on the second attempt, you will need to wait three months before being able to reattempt. You will be provided with course information prior to sitting this test and it is essential you read this thoroughly prior to starting the test.
It is essential that drivers/passenger assistants complete this training themselves and is in the operators best interest as they will be tested on this during their appointment and may hinder there progress through the badging process.
New drivers and PAs must have demonstrated a functional level of English, and must be able to understand spoken and written English as well as being able to speak English fluently.
Please speak to your operator about making an application for a TAS badge.