ULKA PATEL
Maidenhead,Berkshire
Summary
Dynamic professional with a robust background in healthcare administration and fashion management. Proven expertise in HR compliance, operational efficiency, and strategic planning. Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing staff satisfaction and client experiences through innovative management practices.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work history
Admin / HR Manager
Larchfield House
Maidenhead, Windsor and Maidenhead
2025.03 - Current
- Took over full HR Manager and payroll responsibilities alongside existing administrative operations for 195 staff.
- Managing entire recruitment lifecycle, including job adverts, applicant vetting, right-to-work validation, and structured onboarding.
- Enhanced recruitment processes for improved talent acquisition.
- Advising line managers on performance and disciplinaries, and utilised professional mediation to resolve grievances and disputes.
- Maintaining strict compliance with Gov.UK, ACAS, and CQC standards, conducting background checks and managing overseas worker documentation.
- Managing efficient payroll for 195 staff, ensuring timely salary disbursements.
- Developed career progression paths, automated review reminders for leadership, and coordinated compliance training programs.
- Enhanced staff satisfaction and retention by implementing welfare policies, regular engagement activities, and flexible working options.
- Monitored in-house HR trends against monthly KPIs, updated employee handbook, and reported QA findings to senior leadership.
- Partnered with department managers on workforce benchmarking, succession planning, and fair execution of leaver/redundancy procedures.
Admin Manager
Larchfield House
Maidenhead, Windsor and Maidenhead
2023.10 - 2025.03
- Spearheaded daily administrative operations in dementia-focused nursing home with 96 residents, improving workflow efficiency by 25% and ensuring seamless operations.
- Managed resident admission process, creating contracts, handling billing setup, and inputting critical relative details onto PCS system.
- Maintained master database for resident info (DOA, DOB, funding authorities) and tracked dependency and occupancy metrics to protect revenue.
- Raised monthly invoices and statements for residents using company accounting system and managed resident personal fund accounts via detailed Excel tracking.
- Managed petty cash and kitchen cash with precise receipt storage, ensuring accurate monthly sign-offs by Director.
- Prepared and submitted comprehensive payroll-related documentation to accounts by 1st of each month and swiftly resolved complex salary queries.
- Oversaw procurement by raising Purchase Orders (POs), ordering office supplies, and negotiating with suppliers to systematically reduce operational costs.
- Collaborated closely with management team to monitor company spending, process employee expenses, and identify operational bottlenecks.
- Handled daily corporate correspondence with families and suppliers, covered reception desk daily, and planned promotional office and training events.
- Achieved 100% compliance with Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards by supporting General Manager and Director through statutory regulatory audits.
- Organised training sessions, maintained in-house training matrix, and tracked employee certifications to guarantee 100% compliance.
Health Care Assistant
Larchfield House
Maidenhead, Windsor and Maidenhead
2023.06 - 2023.10
- Provided hands-on care and support to dementia residents, assisting with daily activities such as feeding, bathing, dressing, and mobility, ensuring comfort and dignity.
- Offered compassionate care and emotional support to residents, building rapport and trust, leading to improved resident well-being and overall satisfaction.
- Monitored residents’ physical and emotional health, reporting any changes to senior staff and assisting in adjusting care plans as necessary.
- Provided specialised care tailored to unique challenges faced by dementia patients, such as memory loss, confusion, and behavioural changes, improving their quality of life.
- Worked collaboratively with nursing and care staff to ensure seamless care delivery, contributing to supportive and efficient team environment.
Owner and Managing Director
HT Export
2021.01 - 2022.04
- Independently managed design, production, and export of digital-printed spring/summer and beach/lounge wear, shipping over 5,000 units to retailers in Europe and North America, achieving 15% growth in exports during 18-month period.
- Conducted in-depth market research and trend forecasting, successfully launching 3 collections, resulting in 10% increase in demand and positive feedback from retail partners.
- Oversaw all aspects of production, from fabric sourcing to quality control, ensuring 100% on-time production rate while maintaining high-quality standards across all product lines.
- Managed all company operations single-handedly, from product development to logistics, resulting in 20% increase in profitability by optimising production and reducing costs.
- Built and maintained relationships with 10+ retail clients, achieving 90% retention rate through direct communication, excellent service, and timely delivery.
- Managed export processes, including logistics, customs clearance, and ensuring adherence to international trade regulations, resulting in 98% on-time delivery rate.
- Ensured full compliance with all trade and export regulations, achieving 0% rejection rate on shipments during 18-month operation.
Fashion Merchandiser
Maitree Apparels
2017.07 - 2018.04
- Led merchandise department, overseeing inventory planning, stock levels, and product assortments, ensuring 15% improvement in stock turnover while meeting seasonal sales goals.
- Coordinated closely with production team, ensuring alignment on production schedules, fabric selection, and quality control, resulting in 20% reduction in delays and improved on-time product launches.
- Conducted thorough assessments of clothing upon delivery, maintaining 98% fault-free product rate, and ensuring all items met brand standards before being made available for sale.
- Recruited, trained, and developed high-performing team of 10+ staff, achieving 25% increase in team productivity and aligning performance with sales and marketing objectives to boost overall sales by 12%.
- Implemented best practices for safe and secure storage of stock, resulting in 10% reduction in product damage and shrinkage, and preserving quality of goods for sale.
- Built and maintained strong relationships with key clients and retail partners, increasing customer satisfaction by 20% and driving repeat business, contributing to 15% year-over-year sales growth.
Education
CIPD Level 7 - Human Resources
Centra Training
UK 2026.03 -
Bachelors - Business Administration
Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University
Amravati, Maharastra, IndiaBachelors - Fashion Design
International Institute of fashion design (INIFD)
Surat, IndiaSkills
Leadership development
Excel proficiency
Analytical skills
End-to-end recruitment
Policy and procedure development
Workforce Planning
Compliant Management
Team Collaboration
Affiliations
- Travelling
- Reading
Accomplishments
Nominated for Behind the Scenes Award for Excellent Contributions_Berkshire Care Association_2026
Made in top 5 for Global Business Idea_Aston University_2025
Languages
English
Advanced
Hindi
Native
Gujarati
Native
Punjabi
Intermediate
Urdu
Upper intermediate
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
CIPD Level 7 - Human Resources
Centra Training
2026.03 -
Admin / HR Manager
Larchfield House
2025.03 - Current
Admin Manager
Larchfield House
2023.10 - 2025.03
Health Care Assistant
Larchfield House
2023.06 - 2023.10
Owner and Managing Director
HT Export
2021.01 - 2022.04
Fashion Merchandiser
Maitree Apparels
2017.07 - 2018.04
Bachelors - Business Administration
Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University
Bachelors - Fashion Design
International Institute of fashion design (INIFD)