Sharmain Cottam

I am 45 years of age and currently working for Blackburn with Darwen in the finance customer services department working from home and relocating back to N Ireland. I am available for full time hours and I am fully flexible. I believe myself to be a reliable, punctual, polite and friendly to all; I am also willing to work to the best of my ability and able to adapt myself to new skills quickly and love learning new things. Due to previous jobs I am able to deliver outstanding customer service and always go above and beyond in any role, co-operate well with others and have good interpersonal skills. I have worked for Blackburn with Darwen Borough council for the past 6 years with in Children Centre's working with children from age 6weeks - 5 years and then a further 3 years within my customer service department. I have worked with a wide and diverse range of service users, delivering customer services. I am also fully trained on Microsoft Office. I have been working in a very busy contact centre in my local council doing a variety of job roles.

Customer Service Advisor

Darwen Borough Council

June 2013 to Present

on the 3rd of June 2013- Present.

My current job role is Customer Service advisor I work in a contact Centre for my Local Authority I work in a range of services From Highways, Cleansing, Fly tipping, Pest control, Pollution Control, Blue badges and Nowcards. Due to it being such a customer based role I feel I have fantastic customer service skills as I have to deal with customers all day every day, I am able to de-escalate complaints when a customer is not happy and offer other solutions to make the customer happy that are realistic. I am able to deal with very difficult and sensitive situations and I also do reception work which entails switchboard making me fully and professionally phone trained. This job role was all self-taught and I was able to adapt to the new role as soon as I was in the job and have trained other new starts that came along on my team.

I am able to use a computer and navigate around Microsoft.
 

Senior Early Years Worker

Livesey Children's & All Age Centre

July 2008 to June 2013

Blackburn south west children central, I started as Senior Early Years Worker with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council on the 1st July 2008 - June 2013.

Responsibilities: Management role responsible for 1:1's and appraisals, Opening up and locking up buildings, Ensuring a high standard of care and education, Responsible for safe guarding and welfare requirements, Strong knowledge of EYF'S, Planning and implementing from the EYF'S, Key worker role, responsible for children's personal files, learning journeys and individual education plans, Responsible for observing, recording and evaluating focused activities, Writing reports and delivering outcomes at meetings such as TAC and child protection meetings, Working in partnership with relevant professionals, Supervising and mentoring, assistants, students and volunteers, Filing paperwork/keeping records, Photocopying work for staff members, Room Bookings for visitors / contact sessions between children and parents, Updating spreadsheets and confidential information, Any typing that is required, Taking childcare fees, Answering phone and put call through to the correct people, Creating word documents. I type up documents for other members of staff e.g. reports, observations, letters etc. Administration Vitamin D to people that come in with their red books and pregnant mums. Working with Health visitors and midwives booking antenatal appointment.
 

Key worker

Higher croft Children's centre

March 2007 to July 2008

Blackburn south east children centre, I started as Early Years Worker with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council on the 3rd March 2007 till 1st July 2008.

Ensuring a high standard of care and education, Responsible for safe guarding and welfare requirements, Strong knowledge of EYF'S, Planning and implementing from the EYF'S. Key worker role, responsible for children's personal files, learning journeys and individual education plans., Responsible for observing, recording and evaluating focused activities, Writing reports and delivering outcomes at meetings such as TAC and child protection meetings. Working in partnership with relevant professionals, Filing paperwork/keeping records, Photocopying work for staff members, Room Bookings for visitors / contact sessions between children and parents / Updating spreadsheets and confidential information, any typing that is required, Taking childcare fees. Answering phone, creating word documents. I type up documents for other members of staff e.g. reports, observations, letters etc.

NVQ in child care Level 2 & 3 in Early Years 

NVQ in child care level 2 & 3 

Witton park High School - Blackburn

1992