PROFILE:

Recently retired from senior leadership within Children’s Services in a North East Local Authority, Alison has abundant experience of using coaching techniques to facilitate complex, transformative organisational change and managing integrated children’s services in both public and voluntary sector. With a professional heritage in education, Alison pursued a holistic approach to working with people, building relationships, and developing skills of partnership building, project management, management of resources and a strong collaborative approach.

Demonstrating a commitment to communities where individuals often have a history of low achievement and expectation and where people face many barriers to achieving their potential, Alison’s work is inspired by a belief in the abilities and potential of all. She is passionate and enthusiastic, building strong professional relationships, rooted in doing things “with” people rather than “doing to” or “doing for”.

COACHING STYLE:

“Coaching is the art of facilitating another person’s learning development, wellbeing and performance. Coaching raises self-awareness and identifies, choices. Through coaching people are able to find their own solutions, develop their own skills and change their own attitudes and behaviours. The whole aim sf coaching is to close the gap between people’s potential and the current state". (Rogers, 2016)

Alison holds an MA in Coaching from Northumbria University, with experience of enabling, facilitating, and supporting others through opportunities, challenges and change management programmes. She is experienced in a range of coaching models including GROW, (Goals, Reality, Options, Way Forward) OSCAR (Outcome, Situation, Choices, Actions and Review) and ACE (Actions, Cognitions and Emotions.) Drawing on psychological insights, including person centred, cognitive, and solution focused approaches, and utilising insights from neuroscience, Alison embraces some well-established principles.

• The client is resourceful and has the resources to resolve their own problems.
• The coach’s role is to develop the client’s resourcefulness through skilful questioning, challenging and support. It is not advice giving.
• Coaching is focused on the whole person – past, present, and future.
• The coach and the client are equals in the relationship.
• Coaching is about change and action.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING:

• MA in Coaching (Northumbria University, 2022)
• National Professional Qualification in Integrated Centre Leadership (Northumbria University)
• PGCE in Primary education (University of Leeds)
• BA (Hons) Theology and Religious Education (University of Bristol)

CAREER BACKGROUND:

Alison has a background in teaching and wider public services, specifically in education and support to families. Through this she has developed the ability to relate to, communicate with and support people of all ages and backgrounds. With proven management, administrative and organisational skills in both small and large-scale projects she has sought to develop a range of colleagues from a variety of professional backgrounds.

In particular she has

• Developed leadership styles and approaches both in teams and individuals,
• Developed teams across multi agency settings to develop creative and collaborative approaches.
• Worked strategically.
• Strengthened leadership skills and supported individual development.
• Influenced and built relationships.
• Facilitated personal and organisational change.
• Drawn on the work of Brené Brown, Nancy Kline and Harriet Lerner.

TESTIMONIAL:

“Alison displayed excellent listening skills. I felt she gave me her full attention and was interested in the situation I brought to discuss and explore. Exploring my goals was thought provoking and got me really thinking about what I want for my future. I have continued to process this question. She helped me to think outside the box, thinking creatively and suggesting alternative options to consider. The session far exceeded my expectations, and I was very happy to book further sessions” (NCC employee, 2019)