Millie O'Connor

While working at Matfen Hall I took on the role of leisure assistant and housekeeper of the leisure department. This role entailed carrying out poolside tasks and also being responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the leisure department such as the upkeep of the gym, changing rooms and surrounding areas. I also took on extra roles when available such as assisting in the Spa department and assisting the hotel porters.

As I worked for a 5 star hotel it was key to ensure customer satisfaction by delivering and providing guests and members with exceptional service to increase customer retention rates. I did this by fostering a welcoming environment with excellent interpersonal skills and working with team members to meet all diverse customer needs. This was done by providing key information to guests upon arrival, outlining location and use of locker rooms, lounge areas and hospitality stations and communicating with guests and members to answer inquiries through email, telephone and in-person interactions. This meant that we as a department received positive feedback from customers through dedicated service delivery.

As my role of housekeeper I was responsible for carrying out cleaning duties of the changing rooms, gym and surrounding areas for enhanced customer experience. This was done by regularly stocking towels, and supplies in locker rooms, lounge areas and hospitality stations, along with meticulous hoovering, mopping, and tidying of all areas. Part of my role was also being responsible for the leisure laundry process, washing, drying and folding towels for the department as and when necessary.

It was key to maintain safety standards with regular equipment checks and performing minor maintenance and repairs to continue consistent equipment operation and availability. I also monitored the pool area closely to prevent any accidents or mishaps and I assessed pool chemical levels and reported concerns to management so required standards were met.

I worked as a leisure attendant / lifeguard for over a year, and this job has allowed me to gain a level 3 first aid qualification, a defibrillator qualification and a water rescue lifeguarding qualification. In this job I was required to carry out lifeguarding duties by maintaining a swimming pool and waterslide, whilst also being responsible for the cleanliness of the changing rooms and soft play area.

As a lifeguard it was my job to ensure the safety of customers by vigilantly monitoring the pool area. I assisted swimmers in distress, and prevented potential accidents. As part of ensuring safety I conducted routine checks on equipment, ensuring a safe environment for all. I helped visitors load onto rides, securely and leave rides at the end of turns. This meant I needed to coordinate well with lifeguards during busy hours or while waterslides and other equipment were open.

It was key to maintaining exceptional safety and compliance knowledge through numerous first aid courses for optimised poolside safety, Therefore allowing me to be able to perform first aid as required, prioritising customer care, safety and wellbeing. I completed necessary detailed reports on incidents, aiding in future prevention measures.

As part of my cleaning role I was responsible for the cleanliness of changing rooms, bathrooms and soft play areas and therefore required to carry out regular and extensive cleaning tasks, resulting in attractive and hygienic facilities.

It was important that I provided excellent customer service to increase customer satisfaction, and this was done by effective communication and excellent problem-solving abilities to promptly address queries or concerns. I handled complex customer interactions firmly and diplomatically, steered towards positive resolution.

As part of my lifeguard qualification it was required that I maintained my qualifications and certifications and undertook regular top up training to stay updated on lifesaving techniques, while also working closely with management to develop and keep up to date with emergency response plans..

I worked for The Falcons Rugby in their street food department for a short period of time after they bought the business from The angel of Corbridge (my previous place of employment), and for this role i was required to work a variety of shifts and variety of hours. This job entailed working on their street food vans at a primarily The Falcons Rugby matches and at Hexham Raacecourse, and providing customers, and guests with high quality, fast food. When working here i learnt to adapt my skill set to fit in with the expectations of the role.

• Maintaining high levels of customer service was a key part of my role while working on street food vans. This was done by being prompt and attentive towards customers to enhance their satisfaction when ordering from our vans. This also involved handling complaints in a professional manner to maintain good customer service and preserving the reputation of the business. As a part of this job managing queues effectively was key, as we typically worked busy, high demanding, and fast paced events. Having a managed queue ensures swift service for all customers allowing for consistently high quality street food to be served.
• Working effectively amongst team members was vital for efficient working conditions and being able to produce high quality products. My role within the team was to help direct the workflow between staff to meet the needs of customers and high-volume orders enabling for smooth operations. Worked flexible hours including weekends and holidays meeting business needs.
• Working on the street food vans meant being able to be flexible in varying menus and changing requirements to tailor foods to specific events. This involved cooking innovative and high quality items to optimise sales and enhance overall customer satisfaction. Being flexible with the menu around various events also requires flexibility in terms of the working environment the event requires, for example some events require a food van and some require gazebos/booths to be set up. This means as a part of this job i have gained the skills to be able to adapt to change quickly all whilst maintaining excellent service standards.
• Food hygiene was a key component of this job role as it entailed handling a variety of raw meats, raw fish and vegetables. To ensure high standards of food hygiene, meticulous cleaning routines were carried out before, during, and after the shifts. To ensure health and safety guidelines were followed strictly, i carried out regular equipment checks to check optimal functionality and to make sure they meet regulation standard.
• Stock was also a key component of this job as working at a wide variety of locations and being away from the business meant i was required to make sure all stock needed for the day, that was specific to the event, had to be loaded on to the food vans prior to leaving. This also meant stock needed to be secured for travel and in the correct containers to ensure freshness, for example meat and vegetables needed to be in cold boxes. Along with stock of food and drinks, the appropriate equipment would also be key to the food- trucks operations and therefore a key part of stock that needed to be loaded on the vans.
• Another key part of my role was to manage cash and card transactions efficiently and to maintain accurate records for the business.

I carried out a week's work experience in a first school aiding the teacher as a classroom assistant. Over the course of the week I worked with children aged 3-9 (nursery - year 4). I assisted with the planning and preparation of a school production and also assisted with everyday classroom learning.

Throughout the week I supported teachers by preparing classroom materials and assisted in lesson planning, resulting in engaging class sessions. I managed classroom resources effectively, ensuring accessibility for all pupils. I also offered reliable assistance to teachers through administrative support and classroom management by preparing visual aids, equipment and classroom displays for daily lessons.

In terms of student support I provided one-on-one assistance to students struggling with work, aiding their understanding of complex topics. And also built trusting, respectful relationships with pupils through attentive listening and communication abilities. I encouraged student interaction in group activities, maintaining sensitivity to various special needs requirements. I also attended to younger children's basic physical needs and assisted in development of personal skills.

It was a vital part of my role to ensure a safe learning environment by monitoring student behaviour. Also promoting positive behaviour within the classroom setting, to enhance overall learning experiences for all children. I supervised pupils during lunchtimes and play times ensuring their safety and wellbeing and taking the appropriate action when needed.

I worked multiple nights a week as a housekeeper and carer for a paraplegic woman that required me to clean her house whilst also providing her with personal care, such as showering, dressing and giving medication.

As part of the housekeeping role I was required to perform comprehensive cleaning tasks such as hoovering, mopping and cleaning the kitchen.Another part of this role was to manage waste disposal effectively and to also manage the laundry process. Serviced bathrooms with fresh supplies and regular cleaning. Maintaining health and hygiene was very important as it prioritised safety standards and risk reduction for the client when manoeuvring around in a wheelchair.

Alongside the housekeeping role I was responsible for the care of the household pets. This meant walking and feeding the dogs and any other special requests that were required.

As part of the carer role it was my responsibility to assist the client when manoeuvring around the house to ensure safety and prevent accidents. This being safely lifting and transferring the client using hoists and wheelchairs to ensure comfort and enable varied mobility. As a caregiver I maintained client dignity and respect when providing personal care including showering, toileting, and dressing. I was also required to administer medication, ensuring correct dosage and timing to help improve overall quality of life.

I worked as a physiotherapy assistant employed by the patient to assist their private physio needs. As a part of this role I worked multiple mornings a week providing assistance to the primary physiotherapist in aiding a paraplegic women using treadmill and sling therapy to encourage circulation and promote mobility for the joints.

Part of this role required me to provide high -quality care to said patient and to accurately execute treatment plans that were given. This required effective communication between the patient and physiotherapists to ensure a better understanding and no confusion for the treatments provided. This communication also aided with the ability to cope with pressure caused by unexpected changes in situations that could be caused by rapid changes in the patient's condition or situation.

As an assistant I was required to prepare necessary equipment for physiotherapy sessions, enhancing their effectiveness along with keeping the working area and equipment clean and orderly. I was also required to assist the patient with dressing and undressing in preparation for treatment.

The overall goal of the physiotherapist was to improve the patient's mobility and circulation. I assisted in this by supporting them with exercises and movements to increase strength and independenceImproved patient mobility by supporting them with exercises and movements. Instructed patients regarding physiotherapy interventions to alleviate pain along with applying passive and active manual therapeutic massages to address aches and issues.

I worked as an assistant to a private childminder for over a year and through this I gained experience working with children aged 0 to 13.This allowed myself to Develop positive, trusting relationships with groups of young children.

As part of my role I helped provide quality care for children by creating a stimulating and secure environment for the children to learn and thrive. This was maintained through ensuring surroundings and children's play areas were kept clean and hygienic. Routinely sterilising and storing children's toys was a key part of my role in keeping play areas disinfected to maintain health and safety standards..While keeping these hygiene standards it was key as a carer of children of such a young age, to teach them how to also maintain hygiene standards. This was done by helping the children with personal hygiene and how to independently complete basic cleaning tasks.

Assisting in the basic teaching of social skills was a major part of my role as it helps children of a young age build fundamental life skills needed for the future. To aid the children's learning experiences I used interactive games and group activities to allow the children to foster creativity and imagination within the activities they were doing. I assisted in providing activities based on enhancing imagination through storytelling, art and play. This follows along with coordinating age - appropriate activities such as educational focused to follow alongside the schools curriculum. This also includes offering tailored assistance to children with special needs and encouraging children to safely explore new surroundings, promoting curiosity and experimentation to encourage brain development.

Along with assisting with teaching positive behaviours it was also vital to help manage the challenging behaviours. This was done by maintaining a calm environment and detecting problematic behaviour when necessary. Once detected, positive reinforcement and disciplinary techniques were implemented to improve behaviour and guide social development in a positive format.

I worked for the Angel of Corbridge in their street food department for over a year, and for this role i was required to work a variety of shifts and variety of hours. This job entailed working on their street food vans at a variety of events (such as the Asian tour at Close House Golf Club, Pride Festival, and Burgham horse trials, England Womens Rugby Final, Newcastle Falcons Rugby.) and providing costumers, and guests with high quality, fast food. When working here i learnt to adapt my skill set to fit in with the expectations of the role.

• Maintaining high levels of customer service was a key part of my role while working on street food vans. This was done by being prompt and attentive towards customers to enhance their satisfaction when ordering from our vans. This also involved handling complaints in a professional manner to maintain good customer service and preserving the reputation of the business. As a part of this job managing queues effectively was key, as we typically worked busy, high demanding, and fast paced events. Having a managed queue ensures swift service for all customers allowing for consistently high quality street food to be served.
• Working effectively amongst team members was vital for efficient working conditions and being able to produce high quality products. My role within the team was to help direct the workflow between staff to meet the needs of customers and high-volume orders enabling for smooth operations. Worked flexible hours including weekends and holidays meeting business needs.
• Working on the street food vans meant being able to be flexible in varying menus and changing requirements to tailor foods to specific events. This involved cooking innovative and high quality items to optimise sales and enhance overall customer satisfaction. Being flexible with the menu around various events also requires flexibility in terms of the working environment the event requires, for example some events require a food van and some require gazebos/booths to be set up. This means as a part of this job i have gained the skills to be able to adapt to change quickly all whilst maintaining excellent service standards.
• Food hygiene was a key component of this job role as it entailed handling a variety of raw meats, raw fish and vegetables. To ensure high standards of food hygiene, meticulous cleaning routines were carried out before, during, and after the shifts. To ensure health and safety guidelines were followed strictly, i carried out regular equipment checks to check optimal functionality and to make sure they meet regulation standard.
• Stock was also a key component of this job as working at a wide variety of locations and being away from the business meant i was required to make sure all stock needed for the day, that was specific to the event, had to be loaded on to the food vans prior to leaving. This also meant stock needed to be secured for travel and in the correct containers to ensure freshness, for example meat and vegetables needed to be in cold boxes. Along with stock of food and drinks, the appropriate equipment would also be key to the food- trucks operations and therefore a key part of stock that needed to be loaded on the vans.
• Another key part of my role was to manage cash and card transactions efficiently and to maintain accurate records for the business.

Wor local micro pub is a small family owned business, i worked there for approximately 2 years as a bartender, as part of this role i was responsible for making and serving drinks, rotating and moving stock, handling money and working on the till and occasionally making small tapas style dishes for customers. Working in a bar it has taught me many skills to enable customer satisfaction. This was done by providing excellent service and providing customers with a friendly atmosphere. I have experience in serving high volumes of guests in a fast-paced environment and ensured guests have been provided with exceptional customer care. Working in a bar has also provided me with other skills such as:

• Efficiently managing bar inventory by regularly rotating stock to reduce waste and replenishing it when necessary. I also have played a role in stocktaking and record keeping to ensure operations are being organised correctly and proficiently.
• Adhering to strict health and safety regulations by maintaining high standards of hygiene in the bar area, followed by strict food hygiene requirements that needed to be met in the kitchen. This was done by following end-of-day cleaning duties such as sanitising the work space and replenishing stock in order to protect the safety of customers.
• Assisting in the training of new staff with positive reinforcement and respectful, motivational coaching leading to the team working together in a functional and efficient environment.
• Liaising with kitchen staff for seamless service and delivery, and neatly set tables before customers arrival, preparing and setting cutlery and refilling condiments.
• Helping organise special events and functions at the bar such as funerals and birthdays.
• Inputting orders into a register, calculating bills and collecting payments. handling transactions and ensuring accurate accounting. keeping records of tabs accurately to avoid monetary discrepancies