David is Chairman of Skills for Care, Skills for Care and Development, Hft, and DementiaUK, and is actively involved in policy formulation in health and social care.

At the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) David was Chair of the Programme Development Group for Long-term Sickness and Incapacity (2009), Chair of the Topic Expert Group for Care of People with Dementia (2013), and is Special Advisor on Healthcare of the Elderly. He is a long-standing General Medical Council Visitor for Medical Education, and an advisor to the Medical Research Council. He was recently appointed by the government to conduct an Independent Review into Social Work Education.

David is the Honorary Ambassador for the UK for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, the former South African President’s Legacy Project - the first specialist Paediatric Hospital to serve the children of South Africa and the Southern Africa Development Community.

David was awarded the OBE for his work for social justice, and holds Honorary Degrees from a number of Universities for his work in health and social policy.