David is the former public services editor of The Guardian. He specialises in social policy issues and has won awards for his coverage of health and social care and the voluntary sector. He is a regular conference chair and speaker. He has been a board member of a number of charities and social enterprises and is currently chair of Ambient Support, which provides services for older people and those with learning disabilities and mental health issues. He is a member of various advisory committees, including those of the Centre for Care, based at the University of Sheffield, and the School for Social Care Research, based at the London School of Economics.