Chief executive and directors

Our Director of Adult Social Care and Prevention is:

• Alison McDowell

Adult Social Care and Prevention includes:

• adult social care (including social work, safeguarding, learning disability and autism, and mental health)
• day centres and short-term support
• reablement
• our Shared Lives service

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Biography

Alison McDowell is our director of Adult Social Care and Integrated Services.

Alison started her career in Sunderland in 1997, as a social worker for older people. She maintains a strong belief that all older people should be:

• properly valued and listened to
• treated with compassion, dignity and respect at all times
• cared for by skilled staff who understand their particular needs and who have time to care

Educated at Newcastle University she gained an honours degree in theology and comparative religious studies before moving to Edinburgh University to complete postgraduate studies in social work.

Alison she is responsible for providing leadership in social care for adults within the city, ensuring that:

• people with disabilities can live independent lives
• effective support arrangements are in place for mental health related conditions
• vulnerable adults at risk of abuse are safeguarded

Alison is passionate about creating and delivering excellent services for people who require care and support.

She leads on the change agenda for implementing new delivery models for the services, with a focus on:

• ensuring that effective provision is maintained and improved
• driving major transformational change to care models
• promoting innovation
• working towards enabling people to live their best life

An important aspect of her role, that Alison is fully committed to, is to champion the voice of people needing social care by ensuring that the services delivered are consulted on or co produced.

Alison is currently developing and delivering a coherent, integrated framework, in partnership with the NHS partners and other agencies, ensuring the most appropriate care arrangements are available.

Alison is set to retire in October 2024 - For more information see our news article.