David is a leading commentator on social care issues, with more than 30 years’ experience of the sector as a journalist and Non Executive.
He joined the Guardian as Social Affairs Correspondent in 1988, having previously worked in the regional press and for the Financial Times. He became editor of Society Guardian and then, from 2004 to 2020, the newspaper’s Public Services Editor.
David has won a range of awards for his writing on a social care, disability, mental health and nursing, including Social Care Personality of the Year.
He has been a Non Executive or Trustee of charities and housing associations for 25 years and is currently chair of Ambient Support, a social care provider. He holds a number of advisory roles with bodies including the NIHR School for Social Care Research and has recently served as a member of the Southwark Child and Adolescent Mental Health Commission.
He is a regular public speaker and conference chair and provides strategic policy and communications advice to organisations including the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services.