Amber Cook

Compassionate and proactive professional with experience supporting people during challenging moments through voluntary work in a mental health crisis setting. Skilled in active listening, clear communication, accurate note taking, escalation of concerns, confidentiality, and remaining calm under pressure. Combines a strong background in improvement, stakeholder engagement, risk management, and service coordination with a genuine interest in supporting person-centred mental health services.

Volunteering

Jan 2024 – Jan 2025 | June 2026 - Present | Volunteer – HEY Mind Crisis Pad

HEY Mind, is a charity focused on supporting people with their mental health, with a key initiative being the crisis pad, a place where individuals can go during a mental health crisis.

As a volunteer, I support individuals attending the Crisis Pad by listening without judgement, offering reassurance, engaging them in grounding or wellbeing activities, and escalating concerns to the crisis team when appropriate. I also document relevant information accurately and ensure concerns are shared with the appropriate people in line with safeguarding and service procedures.

This experience has strengthened my ability to communicate sensitively, manage emotionally challenging conversations, stay calm under pressure, recognise when support should be escalated, and maintain professional boundaries while treating people with dignity and respect.

Junior Business Improvement Partner at Arco (2024-03 – Present)

• Identified, defined, and documented improvement initiatives, service designs, and system change requirements with a focus on clear communication and practical outcomes.
• Supported the delivery of process improvements, ensuring changes were viable and cost-effective.
• Mapped processes using provided framework.
• Facilitated Kaizen workshops to drive productive outcomes.
• Collected, analysed, and presented information clearly to support evidence-based decisions and improve understanding across stakeholder groups.
• Applied Lean Six Sigma tools and a proactive approach to enhance efficiency and project delivery.
• Maintained action and risk logs, helping teams monitor progress, identify concerns early, and follow up on agreed actions.
• Encouraged adherence to deadlines, ensuring timely delivery of tasks.
• Adjusted plans and priorities to accommodate unexpected changes in project scope.

Transformation Office Coordinator at Arco (2023-12 – 2024-03)

• Provided organised administrative and coordination support, helping colleagues deliver services smoothly and respond to priorities effectively.
• Completed assigned tasks to high standards within agreed deadlines.
• Attended key meetings, recording accurate minutes, actions, and follow-ups to support accountability, communication, and timely decision-making.
• Designed and updated templates, improving consistency and efficiency across the team.
• Collated and presented information into clear, concise reports for the Executive Team.
• Managed the team mailbox daily, prioritising and resolving queries effectively.
• Maintained and updated SharePoint sites, ensuring accessibility and accuracy of information.

Graduate Recruitment Consultant at Edwards and Pearce (2023-06 – 2023-11)

• Sourced and screened candidates through CV and application analysis, aligning skills with role requirements.
• Communicated candidate suitability to consultants with clear, evidence-based justifications.
• Conducted candidate calls to assess aspirations, suitability, and interest in roles.
• Produced professional candidate notes for consultants and clients.
• Maintained and updated the candidate database, ensuring accuracy and relevance.
• Designed and implemented an Excel tracking system to streamline job and candidate pipeline management.

Waitress at Various (2018-05 – Present)

• Delivered professional four-star service, ensuring high guest satisfaction.
• Adapted quickly to changing procedures and resolved issues independently.
• Excelled in multitasking, prioritisation, and maintaining efficiency in fast-paced, understaffed environments.
• Built strong rapport with guests, families, and colleagues through calm, respectful, and empathetic communication.
• Demonstrated reliability and flexibility by covering multiple roles and extra shifts.

Level 3 Improvement Technician Apprenticeship (2024-06 – 2026-04)

BA in Business Management – University of Hull (2020 – 2023)

A & AS Levels in Business studies, Sociology, Mathematics – Hessle High School and Sixth Form College (2018 – 2020)

GCSE – Hessle High School and Sixth Form College (2014 – 2018)