Driver Aide

Behavioral Health Allies•Kansas City, MO

About The Position

At BHA, Driver Aides play a vital role in ensuring the safe, respectful, and supportive transportation of clients. This role assists with boarding, monitoring, and exiting procedures, while providing behavioral, emotional, and mobility support to passengers as needed. The Driver Aide fosters a secure and welcoming transportation environment, always promoting client dignity and safety. Grounded in our Core Values—Safety Through Structure, Compassion in Motion, Reliability That Builds Trust, Excellence in Every Detail, Innovation That Drives Us Forward, Teamwork Fuels the Journey, and Advocacy on the Road—Driver Aides provide hands-on support to passengers during boarding, transit, and exiting. This position requires patience, resilience, and a strong commitment to client dignity and safety. Driver Aides contribute meaningfully to a secure and welcoming transportation environment while supporting the Driver and the broader Transportation team. This is a safety-sensitive position. Employees must be able to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, including maintaining continuous alertness, providing direct supervision, driving individuals served as required, and administering medications as trained Drivers aides implement supports using the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), working in close collaboration with Behavioral Clinicians to carry out evidence-based interventions, skill-building programs, and behavior support strategies with fidelity. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Safety Through Structure · Assist passengers boarding and exiting vehicles safely, including securing seatbelts, wheelchairs, and safety equipment. · Monitor clients during transit, ensuring compliance with company safety standards. · Maintain vehicle readiness and cleanliness alongside the Driver. Compassion in Motion · Provide calm, respectful, and empathetic support to passengers during transport. · Assist in managing emotional or behavioral concerns with patience and care. · Protect confidentiality and safeguard sensitive information. Reliability Builds Trust · Support the Driver by monitoring passenger needs and alerting them to safety or behavioral concerns. · Demonstrate punctuality, consistency, and reliability in fulfilling assigned duties. · Follow through on responsibilities and communicate promptly with supervisors. Excellence in Every Detail · Contribute to accurate completion of incident or trip reports as directed. · Uphold high standards in documentation, client interactions, and teamwork. · Participate in required trainings and demonstrate commitment to continuous improvement. Innovation that Drives Us Forward · Remain open to learning new tools and practices that enhance transportation safety and efficiency. · Provide feedback to improve passenger support and transportation processes. Teamwork Fuels the Journey · Collaborate with Drivers, supervisors, and program staff to meet passenger needs. · Actively contribute to a respectful, supportive team environment. · Offer assistance to fellow team members as needed. Advocacy on the Road · Represent BHA’s mission by advocating for the dignity, inclusion, and safety of all passengers. · Ensure every passenger feels seen, respected, and supported during transit. Other Duties · Perform other duties and special projects to support transportation operations as assigned. · Responsible, either directly or indirectly, for filing all expense reports according to company policy. · Directly or indirectly responsible for completing time reports on or before the defined due date. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
Must participate in, prior to hire and annually thereafter, a Human Performance Evaluation conducted by a medical provider of the company’s choosing.
Must pass all required background checks.
This position is subject to random and annual drug and alcohol testing.
Must maintain physical stamina, balance, and coordination to support and supervise students safely during loading, transport, and unloading.
Must be capable of implementing crisis prevention and physical management procedures (PCMA) when necessary to ensure student and staff safety.
Must remain alert, observant, and engaged throughout the route; inattention or distraction during transport supervision is strictly prohibited.
Must be able to maintain composure, physical control, and emotional regulation during high-stress or physically demanding incidents involving challenging behaviors.
Must possess sufficient fine motor skills and sensory ability to operate harnesses, seatbelts, and safety equipment effectively and safely.
Strong commitment to safety, professionalism, and confidentiality.
Ability to remain calm under pressure and respond appropriately to unexpected situations.
Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
Strong attention to detail in vehicle inspections, documentation, and client support.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Organizational and time management proficiency.
Emotional resilience and professionalism in high-pressure situations.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience transporting individuals with developmental disabilities, behavioral health needs, or medical conditions preferred.
Experience transporting individuals with developmental disabilities, behavioral health needs, or medical conditions preferred.
Training in crisis de-escalation or passenger assistance preferred.

Responsibilities

Assist passengers boarding and exiting vehicles safely, including securing seatbelts, wheelchairs, and safety equipment.
Monitor clients during transit, ensuring compliance with company safety standards.
Maintain vehicle readiness and cleanliness alongside the Driver.
Provide calm, respectful, and empathetic support to passengers during transport.
Assist in managing emotional or behavioral concerns with patience and care.
Protect confidentiality and safeguard sensitive information.
Support the Driver by monitoring passenger needs and alerting them to safety or behavioral concerns.
Demonstrate punctuality, consistency, and reliability in fulfilling assigned duties.
Follow through on responsibilities and communicate promptly with supervisors.
Contribute to accurate completion of incident or trip reports as directed.
Uphold high standards in documentation, client interactions, and teamwork.
Participate in required trainings and demonstrate commitment to continuous improvement.
Remain open to learning new tools and practices that enhance transportation safety and efficiency.
Provide feedback to improve passenger support and transportation processes.
Collaborate with Drivers, supervisors, and program staff to meet passenger needs.
Actively contribute to a respectful, supportive team environment.
Offer assistance to fellow team members as needed.
Represent BHA’s mission by advocating for the dignity, inclusion, and safety of all passengers.
Ensure every passenger feels seen, respected, and supported during transit.
Perform other duties and special projects to support transportation operations as assigned.
Responsible, either directly or indirectly, for filing all expense reports according to company policy.
Directly or indirectly responsible for completing time reports on or before the defined due date.