Alison Cummings

Regions:: North East, Yorkshire

Background

I have worked for a range of third sector and mainstream social care organisations as a manager, trainer and practitioner, mainly within the field of children and families social work.

This has included working for the courts, the NSPCC and Action for Children, as a children’s centre manager and in policy and practice development. My interests have been in collaborative leadership, developing a peer approach to staff teams, value-based reflective practice, and whole person learning.

As a research associate for NCSL I have worked with several children’s centres in developing effective collaborative leadership, and I have also been engaged in job share, peer leadership and mentoring relationships over many years.

I completed the Oasis Advanced Diploma in Human Relations and the Facilitation of Learning and Change in 2001, and have since participated in Oasis courses in Leadership, Supervision and the Developing Manager, as well as participating in co-operative inquiry into collaborative leadership.

Currently

As a consultant working in developmental alliance with leaders and leadership teams I am fascinated to be part of the creative process of stimulating personal, team and organisational transformation that occurs when bringing together teams from different backgrounds, professions and cultures.

As a policy and practice development manager working currently in private and voluntary childcare development I encourage practitioners to work across organisational boundaries and to develop new approaches and perspectives that expand potential and personal growth.

Executive Development

I enjoy the process of helping people to open up choices in their own lives and their organisations in ethical and responsible ways, and in finding a satisfying, creative work-life balance.

I have been a yoga teacher and yoga therapist for over 20 years. I also study and teach music and lead a community choir. I find this enriching fusion of physical, spiritual and creative activities integral to experiencing a sense of meaning, purpose and balance in my life.