Amba Bridgett

My most recent employment was as a 999 call handler for the ambulance service. For this job, I have to work calmly and efficiently under pressure to give members of the public the most appropriate help. This can range from helping mothers deliver babies, advising how to give CPR, helping those in mental health crisis, communicating with other emergency services or booking appointments at hospitals for the service user.

The calls I dealt with varied every day and no day was the same, but regardless I would use a calm phone manner to develop rapport and extract as much information as possible, this would help me ensure the best possible result for the person(s) in need.

I would support callers through trauma, including accidents and death.

My main priority in this role was the preservation of life, and although some shifts may of been difficult than others, it was relieving to go home knowing that I was making a difference.

This role for me was rewarding and helped me learn a lot about what I want from future job roles and myself as a person.

I worked within the Co Op between December 2020-July 2021, then rejoined in July 2023-September 2023.

During this time I progressed from being a Customer Team Member to being a Team Leader.

As a Team Leader I was in charge of running a team, motivating staff and making sure the store runs smoothly. Some tasks include doing daily store checks, making sure all fire alarm doors are working and tests are completed. I also direct contractors to their specific call out points, manage cctv, accepting deliveries and handling customer complaints and queries.

Being a team leader grew my confidence in leading a team and remaining head strong through hard times. Those hard times would vary from delivery issues to cyber attacks. Running a store came with a lot of responsibility and it was something I did well.

During my time as a team leader I implemented new working methods which improved overall efficiency of the team operations and handled employee grievances professionally, minimising potential workplace disputes. My efforts saw a great amount of change happen within my store and this became visible through a large uplift in staff morale and work ethic,

Working as a picker/packer is more challenging than what meets the eye. It requires full attention and for you to be fast paced at all times. It would entail early starts from 2am onwards to ensure that customers shopping was prioritised and ready to be delivered by 7am, showing our efficiency and loyalty to our customers.

This role was full of targets set daily which I strived to achieve, and would tend to leave my shifts feeling a sense of achievement when strict deadlines were met.

This role helped build my confidence in fast-paced environments.

In 2021 I joined Kent Police as a call handler, I went through intensive training on how to deal with challenging and intense calls. I have been exposed to many situations where I have had to react quickly and efficiently by telling the dispatchers what I am hearing on the phone as well as trying to keep my caller as calm as possible. I have plenty of experience dealing with challenging customers/people in need and how to handle them professionally whilst doing the best I can for them.

I would spend my day to day offering an empathetic listening ear to distressed callers, providing reassurances where necessary. This would sometimes lead to me de-escalating tense situations with a calm, patient communication style, meaning no further police involvement was required, saving time and resources.

In this job role, I showed resilience under pressure, handling challenging situations with composure and believe this experience build my confidence massively into my future roles.

I have experience caring for children, from babies a few months old to children the age of 14. I have interacted with and looked after children with different abilities, including children with autism, ADHD and ADD. I also have experience dealing with tough situations and have adapted to deal with them correctly due to these experiences.

I have built strong relationships with families through trust and outstanding communication skills resulting in long-term babysitting jobs and becoming a reliable person to these people in need of additional help.